Man Arrested After Being Denied Airport Boarding Twice

Broward Sheriff's deputies arrested a man at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 12, 2023, after he refused to leave Gate D2 following a second denied boarding attempt on a Delta flight that day.

According to deputies, the man had already been turned away from one flight before being denied boarding again at Gate D2. Deputies say he threw a slice of pizza toward Delta employees and then ignored repeated orders to leave the terminal.

When deputies moved to take him into custody, he pulled away from them and was taken to the ground during the struggle. One deputy's body camera was knocked off his vest in the process.

Deputies then escorted the man through the terminal as he made several claims, including that he was a diplomat and that he intended to sue Broward County. He also reportedly gave deputies a false name during the encounter.

The man was initially charged with resisting an officer with violence, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors later declined to pursue the felony resisting charge. The remaining charges were downgraded and sent to county court as misdemeanors, and the disorderly conduct charge was ultimately dropped.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case was handled by the Broward Sheriff's Office at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.