Police: Simsbury man punches TSA agent

Indianapolis, Ind. (WTNH) - A Simsbury, Connecticut man is facing criminal charges after a Transportation Security Administration agent was punched in the chest at an airport in Indianapolis, Indiana.

According to airport police, John Christina, 51, had already been scanned in a full body scanner when he got into a discussion with TSA agent Greg Hutman. The police report says Christina punched Hutman in the chest.

Christina has a history of medical issues, but the sentiment is felt in airports across the country. Similar security checkpoint incidents have been reported at lots of U.S. airports since the TS instituted more thorough body scan and pat-down procedures that some fliers think is a bit too intrusive.

They've drawn concern and protests, but throwing punches little bit less common. When Hutman asked Chrstina why he punched him he reportedly said "I was only kidding with you."

Below is the Indianapolis police report of the incident.

"ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 16, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 2:58PM, I, OFFICER DENNIS L. SCOTT, INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAS CONTACTED BY JASON WEISEL, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY AGENCY (TSA) SUPERVISOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICER (STSO), AT 7800 COL. H. WEIR COOK MEMORIAL DRIVE, "B" CHECKPOINT, THAT A TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICER (TSO) WAS PUNCHED IN THE CHEST AT LANE 1. THE VICTIM, GREGORY HUTMAN, TSA/TSO, STATED THE SUSPECT, LATER IDENTIFIED AS JOHN A. CHRISTINA, PUNCHED HIM IN THE CHEST AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ADVANCED IMAGING TECHNOLOGY (AIT) MACHINE.

"HUTMAN STATED AFTER CHRISTINA WENT THROUGH THE AIT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL ISSUES AND CHRISTINA ASKED HIM A QUESTION. SINCE HUTMAN NORMALLY WORKS IN DAYTON, OHIO, HE STATED HE WAS NOT FROM THIS AIRPORT AND HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS IN WHICH YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. AFTER THE CONVERSATION, CHRISTINA "PUNCHED" HIM WITH HIS RIGHT CLOSED FIST IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS CHEST. ACCORDING TO HUTMAN'S WRITTEN STATEMENT AFTER HE GOT PUNCHED IN THE CHEST HE ASKED CHRISTINA "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO HIT ME" AND CHRISTINA REPLIED "I WAS ONLY KIDDING WITH YOU." THIS WAS WITNESSED AND CONFIRMED BY ANOTHER TSA/TSO NAAMAN DAVIS AND US AIRWAY PASSENGER ALSO GOING THROUGH TSA SECURITY, JOSEPH HALLETT. ALL OF THE WITNESSES PROVIDED WRITTEN STATEMENTS.

"ALL OF THE EVENTS WERE RECORDED ON CAMERA C128 AT 14:52:31. UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH CHRISTINA IN PRIVATE SCREENING ROOM, HE IMMEDIATELY STATED HE "PUNCHED THE SECURITY GUY IN THE CHEST." I DID NOT NOTICE ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OR ODOR COMING FROM CHRISTINA'S BREATH OR PERSON AT THE TIME OF CONTACT. I INFORMED CHRISTINA THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE ARREST FOR BATTERY, IC 35-42-2-1MB. I HANDCUFFED HIM BEHIND HIS BACK AND HE INFORMED ME HE HAD TWO METAL IMPLANTS, A COLOSTOMY BAG AND A FUSED RIGHT WRIST.

"WHILE I TRANSPORTED CHRISTINA TO THE AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION, OFFICER THERESA PENA OBTAINED THE WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM THE VICTIM AND WITNESSES. CHRISTINA WAS READ HIS MIRANDA WARNINGS AND SIGNED HIS ADVICE OF RIGHTS WAIVING AN ATTORNEY AND AGREED TO SPEAK WITH TSA ASSISTANT FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR/LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (AFSD/LEO) RICHARD ADAMS AND ME. CHRISTINA STATED HE HAS HAD SEVERAL MEDICAL ISSUES AND ASKED HUTMAN A QUESTION ABOUT THE SCREENING PROCESS. CHRISTINA STATED HUTMAN STATED HE DID NOT KNOW AND HE "JOKINGLY I LIGHTLY PUNCHED IN THE CHEST AND TOLD HIM YOU SHOULD KNOW." CHRISTINA PROVIDED A VOLUNTARY WRITTEN STATEMENT.

"CHRISTINA'S BROWN LEATHER BAG AND LIGHT BROWN ROLLER BAG WERE INVENTORIED AND PLACE IN THE PROPERTY ROOM FOR SAFE KEEPING BY OFFICER JONATHAN BROWN. CHRISTINA WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ADULT PROCESSING CENTER BY J. WILSON, MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT JAIL WAGON.

"OFFICER: 27696 SCOTT,DENNIS L APD"