Police Brutality at Reagan National Airport in Washington

Don't have an attitude at the airport, or you'll get pummeled!



WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A woman who claims she was harassed during a security check at Reagan National Airport filed a $10 million lawsuit on Wednesday.

The lawsuit was filed by Robin Kassner against the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, News4's Miguel Almaguer reported. The entire incident was caught on two surveillance cameras.

"Every time I see the video I cringe," Kassner said.

Kassner said that on Feb. 25, 2007, she was heading home to New York from Reagan National when she was pulled aside for extra screening. Kassner claims she was cooperating with Transportation Security Administration agents when an airport police officer approached her from behind. Seconds later, Kassner said, she was on the ground.

"I didn't really understand why this was happening to me," Kassner said.

The surveillance video showed that Kassner was scooped from the floor. Next, the video showed Kassner pinned on a table while being restrained.


"He gave me a concussion," Kassner said. "As soon as he slammed my head down into the table, it sounded like a ton of bricks hit the table, but it was really my head. And then I black out for a moment and I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm gonna die.'"

According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Kassner was not cooperating with screening procedures and interfered with the screening process. She was charged with obstruction of justice.

According to TSA, Kassner complained that her clothes were going to get wrinkled during a search of her carry-on bag. She was disruptive and raised her voice. When police responded, she became physical and resistant to them, according to TSA.

Kassner said she was going public with her story to warn passengers about her security experience at Reagan National Airport.

"It's just very frightening to me that a police officer could do something like this," she said.