Man, 95, says $300 taken during humiliating airport search

A 95-year-old Michigan man says he was subjected to humiliating searches by security guards at San Diego International Airport and that his $300 went missing during the process.

Omer Petti, 95, said he believes an airport employee stole the cash that he was told to remove from his pocket and place in a bin on his way through security on March 29. He and his girlfriend, Madge Woodward, 85, were headed home after a family vacation in Palm Springs.

“I got set up, and they took my money,” said Petti, who has written letters to the Transportation Security Administration, elected officials and President Barack Obama demanding investigations.

“I am going to pursue this right to the end,” Petti said. “I am interested in the money, but more importantly, I want to uncover what is happening at these airports. I want to bring it to the attention of the authorities that these things are happening and something has to be done.”

TSA said in a statement that officials are reviewing the security camera footage and will issue a report to the couple.

“TSA takes all passengers’ claims seriously and each one is thoroughly reviewed,” spokesman Nico Melendez said in a prepared statement.

Petti and Woodward arrived at the Delta terminal at 10 a.m. and were getting on an 11:36 a.m. flight. They were using wheelchairs to get through the airport.

Petti, a retired Air Force major, said the couple expected to be searched by the security guards because they both have metal in their bodies — Petti has two artificial knees and Woodard a hip replacement.

After security pulled them out of line and patted them down, one security guard screened Petti and he tested positive for nitrates. Petti tried to explain that he took nitroglycerin pills for a heart condition.

It didn’t matter, Petti said. The security guards took the two to private rooms, where they were given a second pat-down search.

“I’ve never been through anything like that,” Woodward said. “It was humiliating to say the least.”

After the searches, Petti said, he realized that he was missing $300 that he had been asked to place in a rubber bin before going through the metal detector.

Petti said that a senior security guard suggested that the couple was mistaken and instructed them to check in their shoes and pockets. Petti said he told the guard the flight was about to leave.

“When I told him this, he asked me if I was refusing his request,” Petti said. “I told him, ‘No, I’d do anything I was asked. I just wanted to know what happened to my money.’”

Ultimately, the TSA sent the couple on their way with a promise to review security footage and advise officials in Detroit of the outcome.

Petti said the TSA manager in Detroit didn’t know anything about the incident.

“I kind of blew my stack with them,” Petti said.

Petti has since filed complaints with several agencies.

A spokeswoman with the San Diego Airport Authority referred comment to the TSA.

The port’s harbor police, who patrol the airport, did not return calls for comment. Petti said the agency told him that the video footage from the terminal was too blurry to determine what happened.

Melendez said that the security agency would not comment on its investigation, but did offer this advice for other airport visitors.

“TSA advises passengers to place any valuable items, such as wallets, jewelry or money, in carry-on bags before entering the checkpoint in order to avoid leaving them behind,” Melendez said.