Passengers respond to woman's attack on TSA officer

PHOENIX - Sky Harbor passengers are voicing their concerns after Phoenix police arrested a 61-year old Colorado woman who allegedly grabbed a TSA officer's breast.

"I never grab a woman's boobs. I wouldn't even grab a man's boobs," said passenger Bethann Weidner.

It happened in Terminal 4 at Checkpoint D Thursday afternoon , and the woman has gained hundreds of supporters on a Facebook community fan page called "Acquit Yukari Mihamae".

Phoenix police say Mihamae started arguing with the TSA agent and refused to be screened by the TSA staff.

In fact, the TSA says the passenger was not receiving a pat down.

But during the argument, officers say Mihamae grabbed the TSA officer's breast with both hands and started twisting.

Phoenix police arrived and arrested the woman on sexual assault and that's when she admitted to grabbing the TSA agent.

"That's pretty bad and she should be prosecuted," Weidner said.

One TSA officer told ABC15 the victim was not working today. No word on her reaction to the incident but a spokesperson for the agency said in an e-mailed response:

"TSA officers work every day to protect the traveling public, and the agency will not tolerate assaults against its workforce."

Some at Sky Harbor say they think this passenger just has issues with the TSA.

"She obviously doesn't like TSA, maybe it was before this airport it happened and she's getting back at someone else," said passenger Ward Smith.

Mihamae spent the night at the Fourth Avenue Jail and faces a felony sexual abuse charge.