Austin, TX – Airline passenger who attacked man, threatened to kill police officer FREE TO GO under "soft on crime" "PR" Bond
Aaron Sweeney, 28, of North Carolina, was charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, and assault on a public servant. The FBI is also involved and more federal charges may come due to the fact that the incident interfered with an airline flight.
According to an arrest affidavit, police arrived on the scene after the flight had taken off and then had to turn around due to a fight. A flight attendant who witnessed the alleged dispute claims she saw Sweeney holding another man in a headlock while he repeatedly punched him in the head.
At the time of the arrest, Sweeney had pending unrelated charges out of North Carolina for assault on female by strangulation, false imprisonment, and assault on police officer.
Despite the initial bail setting of $20,000, Sweeney was released and FREE TO GO under Texas “soft on crime” pretrial release policies. Sweeney was released on a “PR” Bond which requires nothing more than a signature and a “promise” to appear.
When you remove the deterrent of jail and accountability, what kind of message are we sending to those who disregard the law and scoff at being arrested?
Travis County Pretrial Release is dangerous, reckless, and a taxpayer burden
- ZERO Accountability
- ZERO Bail
- ZERO family involvement
- Simply a “pinky promise” to appear
The public should demand more accountability – email your legislators below to “Take Action.”
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Click here for the Affidavit and Release Documents
RELATED:
Austin plane passenger allegedly held man in headlock, threatened to kill officer
(reported by KVUE ABC – July 14 2017)
On Wednesday, APD said that after an investigation was conducted, officers arrested Aaron Sweeney, 28, and charged him with public intoxication, resisting arrest and assault on a public servant. More charges may come at a later date. The FBI has also been contacted about possible federal charges related to interfering with a flight.
In a statement, Southwest confirmed that “an altercation on board between two passengers” caused the plane to turn around.
ABIA said the plane left Austin at 6:28 p.m. Southwest said the plane departed three-and-a-half hours behind schedule.
According to Lisa Birkman, a passenger on the plane and former Williamson County Commissioner, about 20 to 30 minutes into the flight one passenger was told to move seats.
“Then the pilot came on the intercom and said that we were turning around,” she said.
She said two young males were taken off the plane when they landed.
According to an arrest affidavit issued for Sweeney, police arrived on the scene and interviewed a flight attendant who witnessed the alleged dispute. She said she saw Sweeney holding another man in a headlock while he repeatedly punched him in the head.
You’ve been lied to Texas, unaccountable pretrial release is dangerous, reckless, and a burden on the taxpayer…
