Florida Keys

TSA officer from Miami charged with disorderly conduct in Key West

 

KeysNet.com

A Transportation Security Administration officer from Miami was arrested in Key West after reportedly grabbing a phone away from a bystander videotaping the officer and a friend.

Witnesses told Key West police that Milagros Casanas and a friend "were very intoxicated" as they negotiated the 200 block of Duval Street in the early-morning hours last Sunday.

Casanas was arrested around 1:15 a.m. after police were flagged down and reported seeing Casanas "attacking another woman ...who was trying to get away. Casanas continued while people tried to pull her off," according to a report prepared by Sgt. Joseph Tripp.

Witnesses told police that Casanas and a friend "were very intoxicated," and the victim, "was video recording them with her phone because it was funny."

The arrest report indicates that Casanas "ripped the phone," away from the other woman, who was not identified by the police.

Police said they found the phone in Casanas' back pocket during a search. After consulting with an on-duty prosecutor from the Monroe County State Attorney's Office, Casanas was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

In his report, Tripp noted that "we had the elements of a robbery," but changed the arrest charge after the early-hours consult.

Casanas, 35, is a "lead transportation security officer" at Miami International Airport, according to TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz.

"If an employee is arrested," Koshetz says, "an investigation is conducted. Each situation is evaluated and resulting action determined."

Koshetz says Casanas earns between $33,627 and $50,494 annually.

Read more Florida Keys stories from the Miami Herald

Miami Herald

Join the
Discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

The Miami Herald uses Facebook's commenting system. You need to log in with a Facebook account in order to comment. If you have questions about commenting with your Facebook account, click here.

Have a news tip? You can send it anonymously. Click here to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.

Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category