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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Woman Dies After Airport Arrest - Darwin Contestant?
2007-09-30
A woman late to her plane became irate, was put in handcuffs and was later found dead in a holding cell, police said. Authorities were investigating Saturday if the woman choked herself while trying to get free from the handcuffs. Carol Ann Gotbaum, 45, of New York, was arrested Friday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after a conflict with gate crews who refused to allow her to board a plane, said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman.
A sound decision, it seems
The airline said the plane was already preparing to depart. She was rebooked on the next flight, but "she became extremely irate, apparently running up and down the gate area," US Airways spokesman Derek Hanna said Saturday.
clue 1
Officers handcuffed her and took her to the holding room, where she kept screaming, authorities said. Hill said officers checked on her when she stopped screaming and found her unresponsive.
clue 2
Hill said it appears Gotbaum may have tried to get out of her handcuffs, became tangled in the process and the cuffs ended up around her neck. A cause of death will be determined by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.

"She was very agitated and irate and angry," Hill said. "These are the things that led to the disorderly conduct arrest."
clue 3
Authorities said neither a Taser nor pepper spray was used on the woman.
although a beating was in order

what is it about flying that makes people act like assholes?
Posted by:Frank G

#14  Sea, If she was a clear danger to herself and/or others

That is the big IF. She was irate, but I don't think she had written on her forehead that she is a Darwin Award competitor.
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-09-30 23:27  

#13  I disagree, mom. The airport authority assumed full responsibility for the health and safety of its prisoner the moment they slapped on the handcuffs.

If she was a clear danger to herself and/or others, she should have had constant supervision and medical staff called immediately.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-09-30 22:29  

#12  Or, to put it a little more politely, unless the arrestee is obviously so stoned that she a menace to herself, Law enforcement would have no reason to stand over this person. In fact, not having an audience might get her to calm down. If, that is, the lady had something resembling common sense.
Nope, the blame falls squarely on the woman herself.
Posted by: mom   2007-09-30 21:40  

#11  charged with what? Not properly babysitting? If some dipshit arrested on, let's say, a TRO violation decides to kill themselves, is that someone else's fault? Jeebus, flash91.....barring evidence to the contrary, call it chlorine in the gene pool, and good f^cking riddance
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-30 21:25  

#10  I understand irate - everyone looses their temper from time to time.

What I don't understand is how she died in custody. The authorities are required to take care of her while in custody - that also means no suicides, accidental or otherwise.

Died by being strangled by handcuffs while in the holding room? Whoever came up with that explanation needs to be charged.
Posted by: flash91   2007-09-30 21:16  

#9  people acted like assholes on flights LONG before TSA. It's the lack of brutal beat-downs by fellow passengers that encourages the misbehaviour. I'd reverse the trend
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-30 18:44  

#8  what is it about flying that makes people act like assholes?

I dunno. Mebbe it's 'cause their arms get so sore?

Can anybody explain this?

Actually, it's very simple. First, you dislocate both of your shoulders ...
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-30 18:00  

#7  "the woman choked herself while trying to get free from the handcuffs ... may have tried to get out of her handcuffs, became tangled in the process and the cuffs ended up around her neck"

Do what?

Can anybody explain this? I just cannot picture it.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-09-30 17:24  

#6  
what is it about flying that makes people act like assholes?


Coincidence maybe, but I don't recall it being such a problem before the TSA.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-09-30 16:46  

#5  I knew an old guy who described people who died like this as having perished from "a dog stroke."
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-09-30 16:40  

#4  Cocaine can make people act like that and then cause them to die suddenly. Await toxicology results.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2007-09-30 15:29  

#3  people from NYC get so uppity when visiting the rest of the country, like the rest of us owe them something, then they play the aggressive card in hopes of intimidating people. Guess we won this round, touche
Posted by: Hupusoth Scourge of the Infinitesmal7702   2007-09-30 13:51  

#2  Dear Sheriff Joe Arpaio, please cancell that female bunk reservation. We told her she was headed your way and she hung herself with the cuffs, go figure!
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-09-30 12:24  

#1  CRAP - Mods, please move to Local? My bad
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-30 12:16  

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