Law enforcement officers escort a woman into custody on the tarmac at Cyril E. King Airport after she was removed from a Spirit Airlines flight following a reported disturbance just before takeoff.
ST. THOMAS — A woman was arrested Thursday afternoon at the Cyril E. King Airport after authorities say she caused a disturbance aboard a Spirit Airlines flight and refused to comply with crew instructions just moments before the aircraft was scheduled to depart.
According to the VIPD, Spirit Airlines employees requested assistance from port police after a passenger began causing a disruption on the flight. Officers boarded the aircraft and identified Angela Christine Brown as the source of the disturbance.
Police said Brown was loud and noncompliant and appeared to be intoxicated. She reportedly refused repeated instructions to disembark the aircraft and accept rebooking. After being warned that she would be arrested if she did not comply, Brown eventually agreed to leave the plane but then declined to identify her luggage to officers.
Authorities said the situation escalated further during a verbal confrontation, when Brown allegedly kicked an officer in the chest, knocking his body camera loose. Officers then removed her from the aircraft, and police reported that she continued to struggle until she was restrained, handcuffed, and detained. A video of the incident was obtained by TMZ and shared on Facebook.
Because Brown was traveling with two service dogs, she could not be remanded into custody. She was instead granted bail in the amount of $100.
An advice of rights hearing was scheduled for Friday morning before Simone VanHolten-Turnbull, though as of press time, there was no indication whether the hearing had taken place.
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