A California man has been federally charged after authorities say he assaulted TSA officers and seriously injured a Dallas police officer during a disturbance at Dallas Love Field Airport.
Idress Vinay Solomon, 33, of Oakland, California, is accused of forcibly assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the Northern District of Texas.
According to the complaint, Solomon was ticketed for a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Oakland International Airport on March 10 when he approached a security checkpoint without identification.
A TSA officer directed Solomon to another screening lane so officers could attempt to verify his identity using TSA’s ConfirmID process, the complaint states. When the system failed to confirm his identity, Solomon allegedly became verbally disruptive and aggressive.
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“Violent conduct perpetrated against TSA and law enforcement officers will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement. “We will prosecute such offenses to the fullest extent to seek justice for the victims here and to deter others from resorting to aggressive attacks against officers responsible for ensuring the public’s safety while traveling.”
According to the complaint, a TSA officer called for a supervisor as Solomon’s behavior escalated. Solomon then allegedly punched the officer in the back of the neck.
Dallas police officers who were in the airport’s main lobby responded to assist TSA, authorities said.
Solomon allegedly punched one Dallas police officer multiple times in the face, causing an orbital blowout fracture to the officer’s left eye. The officer later sought treatment from an ophthalmologist at Parkland Hospital, according to the complaint.
Solomon also allegedly punched a second TSA officer multiple times before additional Dallas police officers subdued him, authorities said. Surveillance video from Love Field captured the alleged assaults, according to the complaint.
After officers handcuffed Solomon, he allegedly spat on a uniformed Dallas police officer while officers attempted to place him into a patrol vehicle, the complaint states.
Authorities said Solomon continued to yell, pull away from officers and refuse lawful verbal commands even after he was restrained.
Solomon remains in custody pending further court proceedings.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The incident is being investigated by the TSA, the FBI and the Dallas Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.
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