Stowaway Becomes A Big Problem For Airport Police At LAX

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Stowaway Becomes A Big Problem For Airport Police At LAX

August 11, 2014 - On Thursday 62 year old Marilyn Jean Hartman was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for what police believed to be Hartman’s eighth attempt to board an airline without a proper boarding pass.

On Thursday morning Hartman had boarded a bus out of Los Angeles’ Union Station for LAX and around 10:20 AM she arrived at Terminal 2. Hartman began walking pass the passenger terminals looking for vulnerabilities in the passenger check points. About an hour later Hartman was arrested at Terminal 7.

Airport police had been on alert for Hartman because she had attempted several times before to gain access to the airlines at LAX. Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon said "My experience led me to believe Hartman was likely to return to LAX. She was seen wandering through several terminals today, in what appeared to be a scouting mission." Fliers with Hartman’s picture on it was circulated to airport police officers.

The alert was issued as a result of an attempt made by Hartman on Monday when she was able to board a Southwest Airlines flight out of San Jose International Airport for LAX. In-flight the flight attendants did a head count at that time they realized Hartman did not have a ticket.

Hartman was arrested upon landing. Hartman was arraigned in court on Wednesday, after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor count of willfully and unlawfully entering the city as a stowaway on an aircraft she was given time served, 24 months probation and ordered to stay away from LAX. Upon leaving the court Hartman said she would never sneak onto a plane again “It was stupid, and it is something I don't want to repeat”.

Thursday’s arrest, Hartman faces trespassing charges at LAX and violation of her probation. Frank Mateljan, Los Angeles city attorney said officials plan to review the police report while she is in custody. Hartman’s ability to gain access beyond the passenger check points without a passenger boarding pass brings into question DHS vulnerabilities at passenger check points.