PORTLAND, Ore. – Anthony Wayne Tavoloni, Jr., 45, of Salem,
Oregon, was sentenced today to three years’ probation including three months of
home detention for assaulting two Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Transportation Security Officers (TSO) at Portland International Airport (PDX).
According to court documents, on August 20, 2017, Tavoloni
entered PDX, passed through the customer service and baggage claim areas, and
entered the TSA checkpoint and screening zone leading to Concourses D and E.
Upon entering the TSA checkpoint, a TSO asked Tavoloni for his boarding pass
and identification. He replied, “No.” The TSO asked for Tavoloni’s boarding
pass a second time to which he replied, “You really want to do this?” as he
stepped toward the TSO. Tavoloni then walked behind the TSO’s table prompting
the TSO to jump from her chair, back away from him, and yell, “Stop, Stop, Stop!”
Tavoloni grabbed the TSO by her forearms and attempted to wrestle her to the
ground.
Alerted, a number of passengers rushed to assist the TSO.
Two passengers restrained Tavoloni, while others attempted to separate the TSO
from his grip. With multiple TSOs now standing between Tavoloni and the victim,
Tavoloni exclaimed “We’re about to have a bad day, do you really want to do
this?” to which another TSO replied “No one needs to have a bad day.” Tavoloni
then lunged at this TSO, striking him in the face with his hand. Tavoloni was
promptly wrestled to the ground and held until Port of Portland Police arrived.
Tavoloni previously pleaded guilty to two counts of
assaulting certain officers or employees in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1)
on May 21, 2018.
This case was investigated by TSA and the FBI and prosecuted
by John Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
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