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Jan 20, 2006 8:48 pm US/Central
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Police: Bodybuilder Assaulted Officer On Plane
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
A professional body builder has been charged with assault after being removed from an airplane at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Aaron E. James, 30, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was charged Friday with two counts of assault and one count of obstructing the legal process. All three are felonies.
Airport Police said they were notified of an irate passenger, James, on a plane waiting to take off on Jan. 18.
Investigators said while the plane was taxiing away from the gate, James stood up and began yelling at a flight attendant, accusing her of being racist.
The captain ordered the plane turned around and when the plane arrived back at the gate, officers boarded the plane to remove James. Once onboard, officers asked James to collect his personal belongings.
Prosecutors said James then squared off with an officer and head-butted him. Officers then used a taser gun on James and removed him from the plane.
The officer required 12 stitches for a cut to the head and has a chipped tooth from the incident.
Investigators said James was on his way to the Mayo Clinic for treatment of a tendon injury related to his professional body building.
James is currently in custody. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to nine years in prison and a $19,000 fine.
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