Man Decided To Get Naked To Protest TSA At Portland International Airport

Port of Portland police say a traveler at PDX took off far more than his shoes and belt while going through airport security.

John Brennan, 50, was arrested shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after TSA agents say he took off all his clothes and refused to put them back on while passing through the ABC checkpoint.

Police say Brennan was scheduled to fly to San Jose, CA, on Alaska Airlines. Instead, he was taken to jail on charges of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.

Investigators say neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the incident. Instead, Brennan told officers he got naked to protest TSA screeners, who he felt had been harassing him.

Witness Brian Reilly snapped a picture after hearing the exchange between the man and TSA agents.

"I heard 'Stop the line, stop the line,' and I looked up and there was this man completely nude," said Reilly.

"He got pulled aside for extra security measures," described Reilly. "He was clearly protesting it."

Reilly said he overheard the man saying, "Do I have anything illegal? Am I good to go through now?"

TSA agents and police said they asked Brennan numerous times to put his clothes back on, but he refused, according to a spokesman.

"While some passengers covered their eyes and their children's eyes and moved away from the screening area, others stepped out of the screening lanes to look, laugh and take photos of Mr. Brennan," according to a Port of Portland police report.

TSA released a statement saying, "TSA partners with the traveling public to screen all passengers safely and efficiently. When a passenger chooses to be purposefully disruptive, we notify law enforcement. "

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