Airport suspect cited in Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Two days before Kalyan Policherla, 27, was arrested for breaking airport security in Detroit, Michigan, he tried to buy tickets at Fort Wayne International Airport.

"He was not aggressive and he didn't bring up any alarms," Scott Hinderman, Director of Operations and Facilities for the Fort Wayne Airport Authority, said.

Hinderman said on Saturday Policherla drove up to the airport and got out of his vehicle. When security officers told him he wasn't allowed to leave his vehicle unattended, he said the rule didn't apply to him.

"He felt he could do that because he's the king of Amsterdam," Hinderman said. "That [response] was unusual, so we did run his plate and we did call the police department where he's from."

After leaving his car, Policherla of Bryan, Ohio, went inside and tried to buy a plane ticket at the ticket counter from every airline in the airport. He refused to show any identification and wasn't able to buy a ticket. Hinderman said he didn't know to where Policherla was trying to fly.

"Not able or not willing to show ID, I don't know which one, is unique," Hinderman said.

After he couldn't buy a ticket, Policherla got in his vehicle and left. Officers did give him a $50 citation for his parking violation.

"He did not try to breach security and we didn't have any issues. TSA didn't get involved," Hinderman said.

Two days later, on Monday, Policherla was arrested in Detroit Metropolitan Airport when he walked through security without a boarding pass. He was wrestled to the floor after a stun gun didn't stop him. Policherla now faces a charge of violating security, a misdemeanor.

Policherla's family said he has mental health problems and had no plans for violence.

After hearing that the man who was arrested in Detroit had stopped in Fort Wayne, Michael Womack said he wasn't surprised.

"There's people like that everywhere. TSA just has to be on their guard and be careful," Womack said. "[The Fort Wayne airport] did the right thing and I think they have proper security measures. That's good to know."