An Australian traveler was arrested after viciously attacking a TSA agent at Los Angeles International Airport after his backpack went missing.
Thomas Jesse Bingham, 35, was seen pouncing at a TSA agent in the bathroom as he accused the worker of taking his bag, including his passport, ahead of his flight to Las Vegas on Sunday.
The Melbourne native was charged with assault on a federal officer after he ‘forcibly assaulted the victim,’ according to the Department of Justice.
Bingham allegedly followed the agent out of the bathroom after accusing him of snatching his belongings before attacking him in a violent rage at around 9:25am, according to the complaint obtained by the Daily Mail.
Bingham was accused of grabbing the agent’s uniform, as well as yanking the ID lanyard from around the agent’s neck, grabbing and pulling his hair and then slamming him into a parked United Airlines golf cart, as well as a glass wall, court documents state.
The agent managed to tackle Bingham to the ground until officers arrived, according to the outlet.
Prosecutors said that the TSA agent later complained of pain in his hand and back and sought medical attention.
Bingham was arrested on Monday at the airport after the scene unfolded between Terminals 6 and 7.
Thomas Jesse Bingham, 35, was seen attacking a TSA agent in the bathroom accusing him of taking his bag, including his passport, ahead of his flight to Las Vegas on Sunday
Bingham was accused of grabbing the agent’s uniform, as well as yanking the ID lanyard from around the agent’s neck, grabbing and pulling his hair and then slamming him into a parked United Airlines golf cart, as well as a glass wall
Airport police found Bingham’s bag at a restaurant he had visited earlier, and Bingham was placed under arrest on Monday for assault on a federal officer
Airport police later found the man’s bag and his passport at a restaurant in Terminal 7 that he had previously visited, the release said.
The traveler was detained and released but later arrested again on Monday as he was preparing to board a flight to the United Kingdom, which was set to depart at 8pm.
Bingham appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon for his initial appearance and a judge ordered his release.
Ciaran McEvoy, a public information officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, confirmed to the Daily Mail that Bingham surrendered his passport.
His arraignment is scheduled for April 13 in Los Angeles.
If convicted, Bingham faces up to eight years behind bars.
