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Friday, March 2, 2012
Man charged with DWI after taking his Jeep for a spin on an airport RUNWAY
A man has been arrested after driving his SUV through a fence at Philadelphia International Airport and driving around on the runway.
He faces DUI and reckless endangerment charges after sparking a chase and shutting down the whole airport, according to police.
Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan, who heads the Philadelphia Police Department's homeland security and counterterrorism division, said there was no connection to terrorism.
The 1999 Jeep Cherokee came up negative when K-9 units checked it for explosives or other types of hazardous materials.
The tense moments began shortly after 11 a.m. when the suspect, identified by police as Kenneth Richard Mazik, 24, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, pulled into the driveway for a gate at the airport.
He then stopped, went into reverse and sped through a fence where workers were doing construction.
Mazik, who was immediately detected by ground radar, then drove up the length of one runway before crossing over onto a parallel runway and driving back with a phalanx of police and airport vehicles following him.
He was soon surrounded by the officials, and was apprehended within five minutes.
The airport was closed for about 30 minutes 'out of an abundance of caution,' said airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica.
There were some delays in arrivals and departures, with about 15 to 20 aircraft affected in all. No injuries were reported.
After he was apprehended, Mazik refused to go into his cell and took swings at an officer, Sullivan said. Two officers sustained minor injuries.
Mazik is charged with DUI, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.
It was not immediately known if he had obtained an attorney
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