CNN
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An Alaska Airways passenger accused of attacking one other traveler with pens wrapped in rubber bands in late January has been charged in federal courtroom with assault with a harmful weapon, in keeping with courtroom paperwork filed within the US District Court docket of Nevada on Wednesday.
Julio Alvarez Lopez, who was on board an early morning flight from Seattle to Las Vegas with 105 different passengers, was restrained by the flight crew, courtroom information mentioned. After the airplane landed, he was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division.
Lopez is scheduled to be arraigned in federal courtroom in Las Vegas on March 1, courtroom paperwork mentioned.
A few half hour earlier than touchdown, prosecutors allege, Lopez acquired up to make use of the restroom and “started punching and hitting the sufferer” when he returned. The opposite passenger, who was seated throughout the aisle from Lopez, is a sworn legislation enforcement officer, courtroom paperwork say.
Then Lopez moved up the aisle in direction of the entrance of the airplane, courtroom paperwork mentioned, screaming “I’ll solely speak to the FBI.” The opposite passenger advised Lopez to take a seat down, and Lopez took an empty seat earlier than he was restrained, in keeping with courtroom information.
Lopez advised legislation enforcement that he thought the opposite passenger was following him and believed he was a cartel member who supposed to kill him, in keeping with courtroom paperwork. He additionally mentioned that he felt the mafia had been chasing him for months, courtroom paperwork mentioned.
One witness described Lopez as “fidgety” and mentioned he was placing on and taking off gloves in the course of the flight, courtroom paperwork mentioned.
CNN has sought remark from Lopez’s lawyer, Aden Kahssai.
“We’re grateful to our crew for his or her professionalism within the dealing with of the incident,” Alaska Airways mentioned in an announcement to CNN.
The Federal Aviation Administration mentioned it’s investigating the incident.