TSA Finds 'Artfully Concealed' Knife In VA Man's Laptop

RICHMOND, VA — A Williamsburg man was stopped at a Richmond International Airport security checkpoint recently after authorities found an "artfully concealed" knife inside the man's laptop, according to the Transportation Security Administration

On Nov. 11, a TSA officer staffing the checkpoint X-ray machine spotted what appeared to be a knife inside the man’s carry-on bag. Security officers searched the man's bag, but were unable to locate the knife until each item was removed and scanned individually.

During the individual-item search, security officers spotted what looked like a knife inside the man's laptop. The computer was disassembled and officers found a double-edged knife "artfully concealed inside the guts of the computer," TSA officials said.

According to TSA officials, the man claimed he had no idea there was a knife in his laptop; however, once officers found the knife, he confirmed the weapon belonged to him.

The man now faces a "stiff federal financial civil penalty," according to Robin "Chuck" Burke, TSA’s federal security director at the Richmond airport.

Burke also praised the security officers who discovered the knife.

"This was a superb job on the part of our officers to first identify the threat and then work in partnership with the Capital Region Airport Commission Police to obtain tools that were necessary to disassemble the laptop to reveal the knife," Burke said.