Australian Man Denies Pulling TSA Agent's Hair At LAX

LOS ANGELES, CA — A 35-year-old Australian man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a federal charge alleging he attacked a Transportation Security Administration officer at Los Angeles International Airport.

Thomas Bingham, of Melbourne, Australia, approached the on-duty, uniformed TSA agent on March 15 while the officer was in the restroom, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Bingham accused the agent of taking his backpack and passport before his flight to Las Vegas, court papers show.

He followed the agent out of the bathroom before attacking him, the DOJ contends.

Bingham allegedly grabbed the TSA agent's uniform, pulling the officer's identification lanyard off his neck, grabbing and pulling the victim's hair, and pushing him into a glass wall.

The victim later reported experiencing pain in his hand and back and sought medical evaluation.

Airport police arrested Bingham, whose carry-on bag and passport were later located at a restaurant in Terminal 7 that he previously visited, according to the DOJ.

Bingham was released from custody but was later arrested at LAX prior to boarding a flight to the United Kingdom.

If convicted, Bingham could face up to eight years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.

Bingham entered his plea Thursday in L.A. federal court to a charge of assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury.

A tentative trial date of May 12 was set.

City News Service