Flight Attendant Hit with 'Bogus' Battery Charge

A strange case of he said, she said. popped up at a Florida airport and. eventually led to a veteran United. Airlines flight attendant being charged. with battery. We got our hands on body. cam footage that shows a woman from. another airline making a complaint to. police, alleging the man touched her. without her permission, said racist. things to her, and even followed her. around. >> Don't touch me. What's wrong with you? >> But the alleged suspect had a different. story. You did touch her shoulder.

That's what they say. >> I did touch her shoulder on the bus. >> And then she told you to don't touch me. >> She said, she started screaming and I said, "Nobody needs to hear.". >> Technically a battery, just so you know. >> We are bringing you both sides plus. prosecutors eventual decision about the. case and we'll let you decide. Was this. a reasonable arrest or an overreaction? Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber.

Real quick, I want to tell you about. something that we use here at Long Crime. that could be very, very useful to you. It's called Truthfinder, our partner. It's the powerful public record search. service that we use to do research here. on Long Crime. But you want to talk. about a useful resource, you plug in a. name, you get address information, you. get criminal history, and let me just. say that can give you some peace of. mind. Truthfinder is one of the largest. public record search services in the. United States. And with a paid. subscription, you can get access to. unlimited reports about almost anyone. That includes looking up registered sex. offenders in your area, too. So, stay.

informed, stay safe, check public. records with Truthfinder now at. truthfinder.com/lc. sidebar. The work days for two flight. attendants at two different airlines. were derailed earlier this year when. police were called out for a report. about an altercation and one of them was. slapped with a criminal battery charge. It happened at Tampa International. Airport on March 8th, 2025, and it. involved a female ticketing agent for. Cayman Airways, Asia Bomeier, and a male.

employee of United Airlines identified. as 58-year-old Frederick Flechman. So, Tampa police responded to first get. Bomeier's side of the story. And another. Cayman's employee was there to support. Bomeier and tell the officers what she. saw when her coworker came off the. airport employee shuttle. >> So, how did it all started? Okay. I was talking on the phone and. open. your voice. >> A noise. >> I was like, "Okay, just okay." And I go.

outside. >> Mhm. >> And I. I still talking to my uncle. Yeah. >> And he he would stand and come to me. like um. close your mouth. >> He he tell you to like close your mouth. I was like, "You are you racist? Why are. you bothering me?" And it was like, "Well, I can hear you.". >> That's um. >> she she speak French, so her English is.

a little broken. >> Okay. But and you were speaking to your. uncle in French. >> Okay. Okay. Uh and then. >> and then he tried to grab your badge. Okay. >> Okay. Like did he actually grab it like. that? What's wrong with you? At the boss, he. >> I was sitting next to him and he was. like, >> "Okay." And what did he say? He he just. >> like after he tap on your shoulder, what. did he say?

>> Um, it's my last day here. >> It's going to um he's going to make sure. they fired me. >> You say is that his last day there? He's. going to make sure. >> Yes. >> Okay. And he he take pictures and he. takes videos every time. See when he. touched me because I was like don't. touch me. What's wrong with you? >> American. witness. >> Okay. >> When he follow. >> So after after he tapped you, did you.

continue to tell him to stop and did he. do it. >> after that? >> Did he stop? Okay. So when when you told. him stop touching me then he stopped. >> Okay. Um so all this grabbing mash and. all that that happened before you tell. him to stop. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> That was at the bus stop when he. >> that was that was at the bus stop. >> when he tried to drop that. >> Okay. U the touching was it on the bus?

Okay. On the bus. >> And how far did he follow you? Oh, a. Marian. >> All the way to the Marriott. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, he he went into the Marion uh. the office and then. >> Okay. All right. Besides tap you on the. shoulder and try to grab your badge. Did. he touch you in anywhere else? No. >> And right after you tell him to stop, he. stopped completely, but he just follow. you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And it's he stop injury. He is still.

injuring me. like when he follow me at. the marri every Asian see him. >> Uhhuh. >> Is he asked them um if they um Ruth are. my boss? Ruth is my boss. >> Okay. So he was asking. >> he want to make sure it's my last day. here. >> She was talking on the phone with the. uncle. Uh. she was speaking in French and he didn't. like it. So he tap on her shoulder and.

tell her that uh stop and then um while. they were at the bus stop he tried to. reach up for her badge and then she tell. she tell him to stop and that's when he. stopped. All right. >> Did you demonstrate how he tapped you? >> Yes. Like he actually Oh he actually. tapped you on the shoulder like was it. really hard or just like a gentle tap? >> How did he tap you? >> Just like that. >> Was it hard? So hard. >> a little hard.

>> like that. >> Are you at least on the caddy says no. injury. >> Now the police officer double checks. that Bomiier would like to press. charges, move forward with this, have. Flechman prosecuted for battery. She. seems to agree. It's noted in a. handwritten statement that's included in. the police report. And the officers let. the women know that they'll need to. speak with Flechman and any witnesses. before they can determine exactly what. happens next. >> I can't predict once the officer fan.

officer has come in contact with that. that person whether he's a pilot or not. I can't predict what he's going to say. if I I don't know what's on the video. yet. Obviously the video is going to. corroborate everything that she's. saying. If it does obviously. >> they called me they was like um some guy. is following our steer and I'm like why? what's going and because I was on the. phone with my VP so when she was calling. me I couldn't answer and finally um.

>> what so I hung out and I'm like by that. time she's walking through the door and. they calling me they was like we don't. know what's going on but we were able to. like block him where she could keep. getting to the office and get down. without him following her all the way. into the office. I'm like, "Okay." I. said, "Well," and then she got there, she was all crying. I'm like, "You got. to stop crying. I don't know what you're. saying when you crying. You got to calm. down to tell me the story." So, she.

started telling me. I said, "Okay, we're. going to go back to the ticket counter. You're going to pick up the phone. You. have to learn to advocate for yourself, right? >> And I will stay there with you, but you. got to advocate. You got to tell them I. wasn't there.". >> Yeah. He's doing great. >> We'll try to find he might identify who. he is and then we talked to him, >> right? >> Get story from both side, >> right? >> I mean, apparently, >> well, I have not speak to any of the. witnesses yet, but um uh what she told.

me sound like what that's what happened. >> Mhm. >> Right. Yeah. Unless, like I said, unless. we get video and it's completely. different from what she said and we. talked to this gentleman and it's. completely different story than what she. said, that requires further. investigation, >> right? >> Hey, ma'am. Um, were you on the bus with. them when that happened? >> No, no, I wasn't. >> Okay. >> All right. So, you just heard the story? >> No, I was I was walking back up when he.

was following her. I was in the corridor. at the Marriott. >> Okay. And I caught the conversation when. he was telling like she work. >> Oh, okay. >> All right. Because everyone don't know which way to. go. I said, but no matter what color we. are, we are people. Let's just treat. each other with respect and dignity. I. don't care what color anybody is. You. respect me, I respect you. That's it. We.

don't have to get along. We don't have. to have the same political views, but we. have to get along. >> Right. And um one someone said a. boundary, that boundary shouldn't be. purposely cross. >> Correct. You know, and that's why on my. account, nobody's allowed to talk. politics. I don't care what you saw on. CNN before you got here, Richie, you go. home and talk about it. >> Yes. >> We're not going to talk politics here. We're not going to talk about nothing. but welcome to Cayman Airways and what. go on in Cayman.

>> Okay. because their times over there is. just as bad with their election right. now. >> So I tell them we just come here, we. check them in, we we we can't involve. politics in it. You know, we get. passengers, they want to come here, and. I'm like, ma'am, I understand, but we. can't we can't entertain that with you. >> Here's something interesting. Witnesses. had relayed to police that they thought. Fleshman might have been a United. Airlines pilot, but police confirmed.

that he's a veteran flight attendant. currently working at one of the agates. >> Hello, sir. Hello. >> I'm officer Dasa. This is officer train. >> Okay. >> You know why we're here? >> I don't. >> We're here because of um something that. happened on the bus. U. >> I asked I asked a lady to turn her phone. off. Yeah. So, she uh. she uh basically recorded a battery. incident. >> on the bus. >> What it was the battery. >> story? Yeah, that's what we did for.

>> I asked her to turn her phone off. >> Just so you know, we have other. witnesses from other airlines, too. I. just I just want to hear the version. your your version of this. >> So, I was in the bus shelter. She's. screaming on the phone and I said, "Can. you turn your phone off?". >> Mhm. She calls me a racist. >> over and over and over. >> She flips me off with her fingers. >> She tells me to go myself. And I said, "All we need is quiet in the shelter. We.

need quiet on the bus.". >> We're going here. We go into the. terminal. I find her co-workers coming. down. and they give me her boss's information. >> cuz I want to send a thing and say we. don't we don't scream on the bus. >> We don't do anything. And. >> well, apparently this happens this. started before the bus and then during. the bus. >> It started in the shelter. >> Uhhuh. >> Then on the bus.

>> and then coming to work. >> Okay. So I followed her down towards the. Marriott. Her co-workers coming this. way. Three of them stopped and said, "Oh, this is our boss's number. I have. the buses.". >> Mhm. >> Um. >> I took a screenshot. >> Mhm. >> of the bus. And I said, "Um, we we don't. need to yell on the bus. Everybody can. have earphones. Everybody can be. texting. You're screaming." I said,

"Don't screaming." I did turn around and. put her my hand on her shoulder and I. said, "Can you please stop?" And that. was the only time I touched her. >> Okay. Did you. after you guys exchange have changed. work, you reach over, grab her badge, and took a picture on it? >> I don't think I took a picture of her. badge. No. child. American Airlines witnesses um saying a.

little bit different of your story. >> Okay. >> Uh you did touch her shoulder. That's. what they say. >> I did touch her shoulder on the bus. >> And then she told you to don't touch me. >> She said I'm being. >> She started [clears throat] screaming. and I said nobody needs to hear. >> Technically a battery just so you know. when you touch or strike somebody. >> without their permission. That's. >> telling you how the Florida stat reads. Okay. Okay. >> Um when you touch or strike a person. >> and they don't want to be touched,

>> it it is a battery. >> Okay. But I don't I don't have a picture. of her ID on my phone. >> Okay. >> So, this is my this is my phone. Okay. >> Did you try to grab the ID? >> No. I. >> I don't know that I ever touched her ID. >> Okay. >> I know. I touched her shoulder and she. screamed when she was sitting down. And you never reached for her ID? >> I I don't remember reaching for her ID. >> Did you touch her shoulder or you tap.

it? >> I I told I said we we don't need to be. hearing anything. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> We still got to get the video from the. bus inside the bus too. >> So what happened was because what. leading to when you touch her obviously. she did not want you to touch her. She. did not want to be touched. >> Okay. And the letter of the law her. statue doesn't matter. >> I did I did touch her. I will. >> you did not strike her but you did touch. her and that is unwanted touch.

>> Okay. >> And based on the law that constitute. your battery. So what I'm going to do is. what I need you to go with me. Actually. you have an ID sir. >> Um yeah. You want my United one? >> Uh no. Your driver license. >> Sure. So Fleshman appears to be calm. throughout his interaction with the. officers, showing some confusion about. the allegations against him, but appears. overall pretty easygoing about. everything going on. >> I'm not going to work. >> Is that what you're saying? >> How much long it takes to depend on how.

>> Okay. Cuz I'm I'm I'm supposed to be on. an airplane right now going. >> So this these are. >> going to be detained. Okay. >> Yeah. So um not detained, right? I got. to go with them. So, I'm not going to be. >> We have our office down here. >> in the first floor. >> Okay. >> We're just going to do a uh RO, which is. release on your own requirements. >> Okay. >> Once he finished filling out all the. paperwork and we give him a print out of. the court date. >> He can go. >> Okay. >> I don't know if it's going to take him.

20 minutes or 30 minutes. >> No, it's now cuz the plane's got to go. to Denver. >> Okay. We'll take care of that. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. >> All right. Sorry, guys. As the trio head. for the police department's airport. office, the cops explain again why. Flechman's actions constitute a crime. And we checked it out for ourselves, too. According to Florida statute, the. offense of battery occurs when a person. actually and intentionally touches or. strikes another person against the will. of the other. >> If he was not touching or the way, if.

you wouldn't even touch her, we just. would have left her. >> I did the fact that you did. I did. And. I I touched her shoulder and I said, "You need to be stopped on the bus.". >> And uh apparently the the whole. situation causing her a lot of distra. She was crying when we got there. So. >> So she made the complaint. >> Yeah, she she was the one that made the. complaint. >> Okay. >> I don't know. >> You can sit on this one.

>> Why don't I I thought I was being. interrogated. No, it's just a standby for me to. >> Yeah, just stand by for me to do my. paperwork. >> I'm more worried about my work. >> I'm not worried about me. >> I'm worried about my work because this. happened. here. >> Did you say that today's your last day? >> No. >> No. Oh, that's that's what we heard today. >> No, that's.

>> I don't want it to be my last day. So. basically what they said is you said. today's your last day and you want to. get fired. >> Did you tell her that Trump was going to. the corner? >> I may have. Yeah. >> And you tell her. >> accent and all that. >> I didn't talk about her accent. I just. said I just need you to be quiet. >> Did it escalate to? Yes, it did. This is. why we always.

interview whoever else who's there. because we are impartial people. We. don't we cannot, you know. >> Okay. >> She keeps telling me, she goes, "You're. you're a racist." She's flipping me up. >> And I said, "Girl, I I wear things." I. said, "I'm not a racist. >> I grew up in Honolulu. I was the only. white guy. >> You got to stop. >> All we need for you is to stop. Don't be. screaming on the bus. Don't be screaming. in the bus stop. Today is going to be.

drama cuz that's going to be a. >> Are they going to put you on the flight? >> No, I'm going to go home. They're. They're scrambling to find somebody. >> to fill my position to go to Denver and. come home. >> How long have you been a flight. attendant? >> I'm in my 30th year. >> 30th year. >> So, Fleshman was charged with battery by. touching or striking. This is a. misdemeanor. He wasn't taken into. custody. He was given a date to appear. in court scheduled for April. And. according to the police report, quote,

he acknowledged the court date signed. and provided a thumbrint on the. affidavit. Now, parts of the report are. redacted for privacy, but it does give. us a little clear rundown of exactly. what Bomeier says happened or claims. happened. So, quote, according to. Bomeier, she was at the employee parking. lot bus shelter number three talking on. the phone to her uncle. Bomier was. speaking French. An older white man who. was in a United Airlines uniform then. approached her and said that her voice. was annoying and it bothered him. Bomier.

advised that she continued her telephone. conversation with her uncle, but the. male subject reached for her badge. holder, which she had hung on a lanyard. in front of her to take a photograph of. it. When police questioned Flechman, he. denied that. He denied grabbing her. lanyard. He claimed that he only asked. her to be quieter and wasn't trying to. get into a confrontation. You go back to. the report, it says, quote, according to. Bomeier, Flechman continued to insult. her, saying that he will make sure that. she would lose her job and that quote, "Trump will deport you." So when the bus.

arrived, Bomier entered the bus first, sat down near the end of the bus. Flechman also entered the bus and took a. seat near Bomeier. While on the bus, Bomier stated that Flechman continued to. quote bother her with the verbal abuse. and tapped her shoulder twice. Bomier. told Flechman not to touch her, which. she complied. Bomier advised that she. was not injured from the tappingss. So, what did witnesses tell police about all. this? Well, the police report refers to.

one man, Kermit Cortez, phenomenal name, Kermit Cortez, who had this to say. Quote, Cortez stated that he observed. Flechman and Bomier having a heated. verbal exchange at the bus stop and. inside the bus. However, Cortez did not. hear what was being said between the two. parties. Cortez said that Fleshman sat. next to Bomier after she had sat down. and continued to talk to her. Cortez. then observed Flechman placed his hand. on Bomier's shoulder, which she. protested. Fleshman stopped touching.

Bomier, but continued talking to her in. an aggressive manner. Cortez advised. that he observed Flechman taking a photo. of Bomier with his phone and following. her as they got off the bus at the red. quad one. So, the police report said. that police had planned to collect. surveillance footage from the bus that. day, but the administrator who had. access apparently wasn't in. So, while. police may have gone back and double. checked surveillance to get the story. straight, we don't know exactly what it. showed. But what we do know from the. Hillsboro County court record that in.

May the prosecutor ended up throwing out. the case, writing, "The state of Florida. hereby enters a nole prosequ and the. above style case and request the clerk's. office to withdraw any outstanding. warrant. Copy us in this case." Now, the. Tampa Police Department report indicated. that United Airlines corporate was. notified about this incident. And it's. unclear if any actions were taken. against anyone involved, but conclusion. nonetheless. It's all we have for you.

right now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much for joining us. And as. always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you. should get your podcast. You can follow. me on X or Instagram. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next time.