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Vigilance, Teamwork Help in Fugitive Capture

News & Happenings

August 15, 2008

A man wanted for federal immigration violations attempted to board a flight with fraudulent ID and was intercepted at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., by Transportation Security Officer Kimberly Pike after she recognized that the state card he presented was not valid.

Pike, who was checking travel documents, notified Acting Supervisory TSO Karen Hedberg, who contacted law enforcement.

Authorities cited the man with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree. After learning he was a three-year fugitive wanted for immigrations violations, the man taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Don Wells, an airport custodial worker, was awarded an original 2002 TSA lapel pin for providing translation assistance during the incident.

“Experience shows that successful resolutions have all the right ingredients – and that’s vigilance, collaboration and teamwork,” said Assistant FSD Linda Mayberry. “This incident reinforces that TSOs stand watchful and that our partners work with us as a team of one.”