An Arizona resident has been handed a four-month prison sentence following an assault on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer. The incident occurred when the officer confiscated the woman’s apple juice during a security screening procedure. Ma’Kiah Cherae Coleman, a 20-year-old from Glendale, was found guilty of assaulting and causing harm to a federal officer at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on April 25, 2023.
The incident unfolded when Coleman became agitated after her juice was taken away at a security checkpoint just before 6 a.m. She reacted violently, grabbing the officer’s hair, slamming their head against a baggage screening table, and punching them in the head multiple times. It took several other TSA agents to restrain her.
The altercation led to two TSA agents being hospitalized for treatment. Additionally, the incident caused significant disruption, with approximately 450 travelers affected as officials had to temporarily close the checkpoint to manage the situation, as per the TSA.
Coleman was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Douglas Rayes. In addition to her four-month prison term, she will also be under supervised release for 36 months, as announced by officials on Wednesday.
The US Attorney’s Office further stated that Coleman is prohibited from traveling by commercial aircraft during her three-year court supervision period. This incident underscores the importance of maintaining decorum and respect for security procedures at airports, which are designed to ensure the safety of all travelers.