An airline passenger proved he would go to great lengths to catch his flight on time when he asked a judge whether he could still board the plane from jail. Oreoluwa Oloruntoba, 30, was arrested on Monday after he allegedly stormed a security checkpoint and brawled with agents at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to his court hearing.
He appeared before Judge Latrevia Kates-Johnson on Wednesday at Clayton County Magistrate Court in Georgia to hear his charges and bond amount, but took the opportunity to ask whether he could make his flight. After Johnson read Oloruntoba's charges, he asked the judge if he could reschedule his airline ticket.
'As long as you go properly through the checkpoint and all that good stuff,' the judge replied. 'Is it possible for there to be like a document that's printed for me to be released today so that I can return back to fly away?' Oloruntoba asked. Judge Kates-Johnson then explained that as long as the airport had not banned him, he was free to return to Hartsfield-Jackson after making bond.
Oloruntoba has been charged with avoiding security, obstruction, and simple battery, according to Clayton County Magistrate Court records. Police said he went through a security checkpoint without submitting any bags before breaching the body scanner. He then allegedly fought with officers when they attempted to arrest him and is accused of shoving one of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents. He denied shoving any of the officers.
Judge Kates-Johnson interrupted his defense, telling the airline passenger: 'Today is not the trial.' Oloruntoba explained that he was trying to board a flight to New York, where he resides. He has not yet entered a plea for the charges against him and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 9.
Other airline passengers told local ABC affiliate WSB-TV that Oloruntoba's arrest caused chaos at the airport. 'That's crazy. That's ridiculous. Sometimes you just got to miss the flight,' Amber Mixon told the outlet. Joe Stampone added that the only way he would dash through security is if he was heading to his mother's funeral. Oloruntoba's total bond was set at $9,000, including $5,000 for interfering with security measures, $2,000 for obstruction, and $2,000 for simple battery.
