A man who assaulted two TSA agents at Portland International Airport was sentenced Wednesday.
45-year-old Anthony Wayne Tavoloni, Jr., of Salem, was sentenced to three years’ probation including three months of home detention for assaulting two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Transportation Security Officers (TSO) at Portland International Airport (PDX).
According to court documents, on August 20, 2017, Tavoloni entered PDX, passed through the customer service and baggage claim areas, and entered the TSA checkpoint and screening zone leading to Concourses D and E. Upon entering the TSA checkpoint, a TSO asked Tavoloni for his boarding pass and identification. He replied, “No.” The TSO asked for Tavoloni’s boarding pass a second time to which he replied, “You really want to do this?” as he stepped toward the TSO. Tavoloni then walked behind the TSO’s table prompting the TSO to jump from her chair, back away from him, and yell, “Stop, Stop, Stop!” Tavoloni grabbed the TSO by her forearms and attempted to wrestle her to the ground.
Alerted, a number of passengers rushed to assist the TSO. Two passengers restrained Tavoloni, while others attempted to separate the TSO from his grip. With multiple TSOs now standing between Tavoloni and the victim, Tavoloni exclaimed “We’re about to have a bad day, do you really want to do this?” to which another TSO replied “No one needs to have a bad day.” Tavoloni then lunged at this TSO, striking him in the face with his hand. Tavoloni was promptly wrestled to the ground and held until Port of Portland Police arrived.
Tavoloni previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting certain officers or employees.
This case was investigated by TSA and the FBI and prosecuted by John Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.