- A woman has been accused of hitting a Customs officer in the neck while at JFK Airport.
- Emilia Mathias was stopped by two officers while trying to enter a secure area, per court documents.
- She was arraigned on Monday and has been released on bail.
A woman has been charged and accused of physically assaulting a Customs and Border Protection officer at the John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Emilia Mathias was accused of striking a female CBP officer in the neck on August 22, per a federal complaint filed on August 24.
Before the incident, Mathias was seen on surveillance video wheeling her luggage and attempting to enter a secure area at JFK, per the complaint. She was then stopped by two officers who tried to escort her away and pointed her in the opposite direction.
While speaking with the officers, Mathias made “a chopping motion with her hand” and struck one of the CBP officers “in the neck,” per the court document.
Mathias later said she was tired after a long flight and was looking for her luggage, the federal complaint read. She also claimed she was trying to defend herself, and knew she had done a bad thing, per the court filing.
Mathias was arraigned on Monday and released on $1,000 bail. As part of the conditions of her release, Mathias must undergo evaluation and treatment for her mental health.
Mathias’ lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.
