Man’s Airport Pat Down Incident Getting Web Hits

The government stands by its airline security screening procedures.

This comes after a man in San Diego refused to complete the screening process when he was told he could go through a full-body scanner or have a pat-down. And he recorded it all on his i-Phone camera.

The incident has gone viral on the internet.

John Tyner, 31, a computer programmer refused to take a body scan. He was then given the option of a pat-down.

Here’s how the phone recorded the conversation:

TSA Agent: “Also, we’re going to be doing a groin check. That means I’m going to place my hand on your hip and the other hand on your inner thigh and slowly go up and slide down.”

Tyner: Okay. We could do that here, but if you touch my junk I’m going to have you arrested. I don’t understand how a sexual assault can be a condition of flying.”

The Transportation Security Administration began more thorough pat-downs in late October as an alternative to body-scans.

At Palm Springs International Airport, body scanners or Advanced Imaging Technology is not yet being implemented. Just the same, some passengers flying Monday out of Palm Springs didn’t exactly have a lot of sympathy for Tyner.

“I thought they should have hog tied the guy,” said Rock Walters who was flying home to Tampa. “You mess around in a security line or an airport for that matter, you face those kind of consequences.”

Walters was referring to the fact that Tyner could face a $10,000 dollar fine for leaving the airport without completing the screening process.

He received a full refund on his ticket to South Dakota.

Meantime, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the body scanners. “They in no way resemble electronic strip searches,” said Napolitano.