Man Attacks TSA Officers and Attempts to Stab Police at Las Vegas Airport

A man is facing federal charges after allegedly attacking Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and attempting to stab police inside Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to federal court documents obtained by 8 News Now investigators.

Jhon Vizcaino Ramirez has been charged with interference with security screening personnel and entry by false pretenses into a secure airport area, records show.

Attempt to Board Flight With Another Person’s Ticket

On Nov. 3, Vizcaino Ramirez approached a TSA checkpoint in Terminal 1 with a bandana covering half his face and presented a boarding pass for a flight to Rochester, New York — bearing a woman’s name. When the TSA officer questioned the mismatch and called for a supervisor, another officer attempted to translate instructions in Spanish.

Agents asked Ramirez for his passport, which he refused to provide, according to the complaint. When he demanded the return of the boarding pass and was denied, he allegedly struck a TSA officer on the right side of the head and ripped the officer’s glasses from his face.

Violent Struggle With TSA and Police

TSA officers called for assistance from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers stationed inside the terminal. As officers tried to restrain him, Vizcaino Ramirez “fought violently,” attempting to hit and kick them, according to court documents.

“At one point, Vizcaino Ramirez got a hold of an officer’s pen and tried to stab the LVMPD officers with it,” investigators wrote. During the struggle, he reportedly kicked one officer twice — once in the head and once in the arm — and kicked a TSA officer in the face.

One officer’s injuries were serious enough that he later required medical treatment, documents said.

Federal Case Filed, Suspect Remains in Custody

Vizcaino Ramirez was initially arrested on state charges, including resisting an officer and battery by a prisoner. A judge denied bail, and Clark County prosecutors later closed the state case on Nov. 24, likely due to the escalating federal charges.

Federal prosecutors formally filed their case on Nov. 20. Vizcaino Ramirez has been held at the Clark County Detention Center since his arrest.

During a federal court hearing on Nov. 24, Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah ordered him detained. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, 8newsnow.com