Police Use Stun Gun on American Airlines Passenger

MIAMI, FL — As passengers chanted "get him off," police discharged a stun gun 10 times to subdue a 28-year-old Chicago man who was accused of "touching" a female passenger aboard an American Airlines flight in Miami Sunday night. Jacob Garcia also was accused of twice attempting to grab the handgun of a Miami-Dade police officer during his arrest. Passengers recorded the chaotic scene on multiple cellphone videos.

American Airlines flight 2446 from Miami International to Chicago O’Hare was delayed for slightly more than an hour as a result of the commotion, airline spokesperson Ross Feinstein told Patch. The flight left at 10:34 p.m. instead of its scheduled 9:30 p.m. departure. The aircraft was parked at gate D-43 at the time of the incident.

Miami-Dade police said that American Airlines manager Jose Biaggi moved Garcia to another seat after the alleged touching incident. But Garcia allegedly "began to scream and insult" the woman and her boyfriend, who were identified as Anastasia Palivos and Joseph Thomas.

After being called to the aircraft, Miami-Dade police told the flight crew to make an announcement asking all passengers to leave the plane prior to confronting Garcia.

But when Garcia allegedly refused to get off the aircraft, police went to him in Row 13, Seat C.

"Mr. Garcia began to resist and pull away," according to court documents, which said that one of the officers pulled out his stun gun to subdue Garcia. The weapon apparently got caught on Garcia's clothing and continued to discharge for 50 seconds. One cycle lasts only five seconds, according to police.

"Due to Mr. Garcia's actions and the close quarters of the engagement, Officer Desroches was unable to holster his [stun gun] which caused the number of cycles," court documents explained.

Police said they were able to handcuff Garcia but that he "wedged his legs and body in his seat in a way that he could not be removed from the aircraft." Police said they asked Garcia to walk off the plane multiple times before he complied.

"As Mr. Garcia was being escorted from the terminal, he collapsed to ground in an effort to impede the officers' efforts," according to court documents. " Officer Desroches changed his grip on Mr. Garcia trying to lift him up and as he did this, Mr. Garcia reached for and grabbed Officer Desroches' handgun."

Court documents said that the officer knocked Garcia's hand away from the handgun but "Mr. Garcia once again reached for the weapon."

Garcia also was accused of causing $150 damage to an airport golf cart that was being used to take him from the area when he "kicked the driver side rear window out of alignment," according to court documents.

The 5-ft-7-inch, 170-pound Garcia was charged with battery, attempting to deprive an officer of his means of protection, resisting an officer without violence to his person and disorderly conduct.

Watch cellphone videos of the incident:

Photo of Jacob Garcia courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department