I-TEAM: Man accused of having weapons at airport indicted
*For previous coverage, watch above.
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-TEAM has learned of new charges filed against a man police say had knives, a machete, and a hatchet at Hopkins Airport.
This week, Cuyahoga County prosecutors indicted Sameer Farraj.
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He now must answer to charges in county court for felony assault, obstructing official business, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting arrest.
The incident happened just after 4 a.m. July 8, and it was first reported on fox8.com.
Gina Hesson and her daughter went to catch a flight, and they captured video of Cleveland Police confronting a man.
She told the I TEAM, “So, my daughter and I were catching a flight out of Cleveland. I saw several police officers. One had a Taser, I know, and another one, I think, had an actual gun. We weren’t sure, at this point, what this man had.”
Investigators, later, said the suspect had a machete, a hatchet, two knives, and a weighted jump rope.
On the video, you hear police shooting the suspect with a taser, yelling, “Taser.”
“And, I felt like they had it under control,” said Hesson. “That’s why I felt comfortable getting my camera out. However, when he jumped the counter, I was a little surprised.”
A report shows the suspect took 3 shots from tasers. Yet, he jumped a ticket counter, ran toward a checkpoint, and then, ran down some stairs.
Police finally handcuffed Sameer Farraj.
A report shows, as officers tried to arrest Sameer Farraj, he waved a knife, and he tried to stab an officer in the head and chest.
Cleveland Police took Farraj for a mental health evaluation, and they issued a warrant for his arrest.
Days later, police told us Farraj had been released from the hospital and arrested.
Records show Farraj has an address on the city’s west side. And, he has a record in county court that goes back 15 years for drugs, a sex offense, and more.
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What happened won’t stop Hesson from flying, but she won’t forget it.
“I think I’ll definitely be more aware of my surroundings,” she said. “I did not think twice walking into the airport that morning, but I definitely will the next time.”
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