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BWC: Cleveland officers tase, arrest man wielding machete, knives at airport

The man insisted the machete was “not a weapon” before attempting to flee through the airport

By Olivia Mitchell
cleveland.com

CLEVELAND — Police detained a man after they say he wielded a machete Monday at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

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Officers responded about 4:20 a.m. for reports that a 37-year-old man had a machete and other various cutting weapons at the airport. When they located the man, he was on the ground at the entrance behind a ticket counter, according to police. Officers spotted the machete and other cutting weapons in the man’s possession, police said.

Officers made several attempts to speak with the man, but he would not listen, according to officers. He tried to run away as he threatened officers with a knife, police said. He jumped over the ticket counter, then he proceeded to jump over a stairwell before officers apprehended him, police said.

The man was transported to a local hospital for crisis intervention, police said.

No injuries were reported.

It is unknown if the man will face charges.

The incident came a day after the Transportation Security Administration recorded its busiest air travel day on record, according to the airport. More than 3 million people were screened across checkpoints nationwide, surpassing the previous record of 2.99 million set on June 23, 2024.

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