A Tennessee grandfather says he spotted a federal air marshal snapping photographs up the skirts of women boarding their plane in Nashville, snatched his cellphone and alerted a flight attendant, leading to the man's arrest.
Adam Bartsch, 28, of Rockville, Md., who police said was on duty as an air marshal for the Transportation Security Administration at the time, was charged with disorderly conduct and released on bond Friday from a Nashville jail, Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV reported.
Rey Collazo of La Vergne, Tenn., told WSMV that he was seated next to Bartsch on Tampa-bound Southwest Airlines Flight 3132 when he spotted him surreptitiously taking photos.
"He did it at least three or four times," Collazo said. "After that, that's when I looked at him. I says, 'Man, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.'"
He said he "twisted his wrists" and grabbed Bartsch's phone to prevent him from deleting the photos from it.
"Taking pictures of ladies without them even knowing that you're doing that? That's bad," Collazo said. "I mean, he's a law enforcement officer. C'mon!"
TSA Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge Michael Pascarella told the Associated Press that Bartsch was immediately removed from duty and is in the process of being suspended or fired.
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"TSA does not tolerate criminal behavior," Pascarella said. He said the TSA is assisting with the investigation.
Bartsch is due back in court in Nashville on Nov. 14.
