COLUMBUS - A passenger at a Columbus airport tried to bring a loaded handgun on board a plane, according to Transportation Security Administration officers.
It turns out, however, that passenger was an off-duty police officer with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s police department.
Lt. Scott Bekemeier, who has been placed on paid administrative leave, but has not been charged for his actions, allegedly left a loaded gun in his laptop bag Wednesday morning.
It happened at 5 a.m. at checkpoint A at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
TSA officers said they stopped a man who had a loaded Sig Sauer P239 .40 Cal handgun.
Officers found the firearm when the Bekemeier's carry-on bag passed along the conveyor belt in the checkpoint X-ray machine.
According to the report, Bekemeier was read his Miranda rights and stated he did not remember the firearm being in his laptop bag when he entered airport security.
“While Bekemeier’s actions were not intentional and did not constitute a criminal act, we take this situation seriously and an investigation is underway,” the airport authority said in a statement. “As is procedure, Bekemeier is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
To date, officers have found four firearms at CMH checkpoints this year. Last year, officers found 15 firearms.
TSA allows passengers to carry firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded.
Airlines can vary on firearm regulations.
