PHOENIX -- Police arrested a Longmont woman Thursday afternoon, after she allegedly grabbed the breast of a Transportation Security Administration agent at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.
Sgt. Steve Martos, of the Phoenix Police Department, issued a statement saying, “A woman entered the screening area in Terminal 4, became argumentative and refused to be screened by TSA staff.”
“During the argument, the suspect, Yukari Miyamae, 61, grabbed the breast of a TSA employee,” Martos said.
Now, many Coloradans are wondering if Miyamae was provoked or if she had an agenda.
Miyamae, who was released on her own recognizance, told 7NEWS that she is a journalist so she understands that people want answers.
“But I’ve been told not to talk to anyone until after I’ve visited with an attorney,” Miyamae said.
Anyone who flies commercially goes through security.
Some security measures, particularly the pat downs, are controversial.
"It's kind of an invasion of privacy, especially if you're a woman," said Sherry Engle, while waiting at Denver International Airport.
Engle said she can understand people being reluctant to go through security because of the invasiveness.
When asked what she thought of Miyamae's actions, Engle responded, "It probably wasn't the proper thing to do, but they do need to figure it out. To arrest her for it, I think that's kind of crazy."
Jay Dickman had a different take.
"She should face charges," he said. "It's inappropriate for her to do that. These people are just doing their job. They're not there by their choice. It's their job description."
Dickman added, "If you're flying, you accept the rules of flying too. That's something we have to go through. It's nothing any of us chose. But it's reality."
TSA issued a statement saying, "TSA officers work every day to protect the traveling public, and the agency will not tolerate assaults against its workforce."
There are questions about whether Miyamae was actually going through the pat down process herself.
Investigators aren't commenting about that yet.
Sgt. Steve Martos, of the Phoenix Police Department, issued a statement saying, “A woman entered the screening area in Terminal 4, became argumentative and refused to be screened by TSA staff.”
“During the argument, the suspect, Yukari Miyamae, 61, grabbed the breast of a TSA employee,” Martos said.
Now, many Coloradans are wondering if Miyamae was provoked or if she had an agenda.
Miyamae, who was released on her own recognizance, told 7NEWS that she is a journalist so she understands that people want answers.
“But I’ve been told not to talk to anyone until after I’ve visited with an attorney,” Miyamae said.
Anyone who flies commercially goes through security.
Some security measures, particularly the pat downs, are controversial.
"It's kind of an invasion of privacy, especially if you're a woman," said Sherry Engle, while waiting at Denver International Airport.
Engle said she can understand people being reluctant to go through security because of the invasiveness.
When asked what she thought of Miyamae's actions, Engle responded, "It probably wasn't the proper thing to do, but they do need to figure it out. To arrest her for it, I think that's kind of crazy."
Jay Dickman had a different take.
"She should face charges," he said. "It's inappropriate for her to do that. These people are just doing their job. They're not there by their choice. It's their job description."
Dickman added, "If you're flying, you accept the rules of flying too. That's something we have to go through. It's nothing any of us chose. But it's reality."
TSA issued a statement saying, "TSA officers work every day to protect the traveling public, and the agency will not tolerate assaults against its workforce."
There are questions about whether Miyamae was actually going through the pat down process herself.
Investigators aren't commenting about that yet.
