An Australian man launched a violent attack against a uniformed TSA agent at LAX airport after accusing him of stealing his bag and passport, authorities have said.
35-year-old Thomas Jesse Bingham of Melbourne was changing planes to continue his journey to Las Vegas when he attacked the TSA officer as the pair emerged from a restroom between Terminals 6 and 7, according to the Department of Justice.
Upon exiting the restroom, Bingham approached the victim and accused him of taking his backpack and passport, a press release states.
When the TSA agent denied knowing where Bingham's passport and bag were, Bingham then "forcibly assaulted the victim by grabbing the victim’s uniform, pulling the victim’s TSA identification lanyard off his neck, grabbing and pulling the victim’s hair, and pushing him into a glass wall", the DOJ document alleges.
According to CBS, after this, the TSA agent regained control of the situation and forced Bingham to the ground, who continued asking where his backpack and bag were – something the TSA agent said: "he had no idea what he was talking about.”
Airport police then arrested Bingham, whose carry-on bag and passport were later located at a restaurant in Terminal 7 he had visited earlier. He has been charged with assault on a federal officer.
The TSA officer later reported experiencing pain in his hand and back and sought medical help, the DOJ said.
Following the incident, Bingham was released from custody. On Monday, he was arrested again, also at LAX, prior to boarding a flight bound for the United Kingdom.
He is scheduled to appear at the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, where he'll face federal charges.
If convicted, Bingham faces up to eight years in federal prison, the DOJ said.
