Oregon Man Free On Bail After Gun Found At Airport
A 70-year-old Oregon man arrested at Palm Springs International Airport, where a loaded handgun was found in his briefcase at a security checkpoint, was free on bail today.
Salem resident Andrew Sadowski was arrested at the airport Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a firearm in a sterile area of an airport, said Nico Melendez of the Transportation Security Administration.
Sadowski, who had a seat on an Alaska Airlines flight to Portland, posted $5,000 bail the same day and was given a June 5 court date at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to jail records.
No charges had been filed against him as of this afternoon.
Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said the arrest did not appear to be related to any sort of terrorist activity.
TSA staff alerted police around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday that they found a possible handgun in the passenger’s briefcase during security screening, Kovaleff said.
Authorities confiscated a Beretta .380-caliber handgun and 12 rounds of ammunition, according to Melendez, who said Sadowski — who was booked on a 12:25 p.m. flight — told authorities he thought the gun was in the trunk of his car.
Sadowski, who turns 71 on Monday, cooperated with police and was transported to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, Kovaleff said.
The airport’s executive director, Tom Nolan, said authorities addressed the issue right away and airport activity was uninterrupted.
Melendez said a handgun may be transported via commercial air in checked luggage if declared to the airline, and must be unloaded and in a locked carrying case.
