Moment drunk firefighter staggers around Cleveland airport before he’s arrested THREE TIMES for disorderly conduct
- Battalion Chief William Graham arrested last week at Cleveland Hopkins airport
- The 55-year-old was judged too drunk to fly before becoming abusive to staff
- Body cam footage shows Graham becoming disorderly toward flight crew
- He returned Tuesday but was disruptive on board a plane and was arrested again
- He was arrested for a third time Tuesday afternoon after being abusive to staff
Fire battalion chief William Graham, 55, was arrested once last Monday after he was kicked off a JetBlue flight for being too drunk, then twice on Tuesday after being rebooked
A ‘drunk’ firefighter was arrested three times in 24 hours at Cleveland airport after abusing airline staff.
William Graham, 55, was arrested once on last week while trying to board a flight to Boston while drunk, and then twice the day after once he was rebooked.
Airline JetBlue said Graham, who is a battalion chief, became was abusive towards staff each time and on one occasion forced an airplane to turn back to the gate.
Body cam footage from officers showed the shocking moments the firefighter became belligerent and unruly toward staff.
‘I’m a battalion chief in the City of Cleveland,’ Graham is heard telling officers. He then asks the officers what his charge is.
‘Disorderly conduct, intoxicated,’ the officer says.
The first arrest came around 1pm last Monday when Graham tried to catch a flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to Boston, Cleveland.com reports.
Police records show he was drunk and was removed from the flight after he became aggressive towards other passengers and staff.
Video shows the 55-year-old too drunk to fly before becoming abusive to staff
The firefighter was ordered to pay a total of $100 plus court costs
JetBlue say that after being removed he was disruptive in the gate area and the cops were called, leading to the arrest.
After Graham was released from custody he went back to the airport around 7am Tuesday where he attempted to board another flight, this time to Florida.
Graham appeared to be drunk again so he was evaluated by crew members and deemed fit to fly.
But as the plane taxied to the runway he caused a ‘disturbance’ and failed to follow safety procedures, the airline said.
The plane was forced to return to the gate where Graham was kicked off and arrested for the second time.
Graham returned Tuesday but was disruptive on board a plane and was arrested again
He was arrested for a third time Tuesday afternoon after being abusive to staff
Instead of being taken to jail he was taken to hospital after complaining of chest pains, before being released.
He returned to the airport for a third time where he walked into the JetBlue drop-off area and became belligerent towards staff again.
Graham was arrested and taken back to hospital, complaining of chest pains again, before being turfed to Cuyahoga County Jail.
He spent two days behind bars before being brought before a judge where he pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of intoxicated disorderly conduct.
He was ordered to pay a total of $100 plus court costs.
Police had to be called to Cleveland Hopkins Airport three times in less than 24 hours to deal with Graham, who pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts and was fined $100