JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Two gate agents are in custody and two others are wanted on Wednesday, after they were caught on camera throwing away a passenger's belongings at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Willie Stovall III, 31, and Ebone Baker, 22, on Friday. The pair were booked on charges of felony theft, spokesperson for the department Capt. Jason Rivarde told the newspaper.
The sheriff's office is still looking for Antoinaija Beasley, 22, and Alshea Mitchell, 30 on the same charge.
Keyonne Brooks said he left his carry-on bag at the Spirit Airlines gate counter on February 19 as he was headed back to Los Angeles after attending his uncle's funeral in New Orleans. Brooks said he got into a disagreement with the gate agent over doing a gate check of his large suitcase.
“She said that I'd have to reschedule my flight instead of doing a gate check, and I knew that was not true because of my travels with my nonprofit,” Brooks said.
He asked for a manager and paid an extra fee to take it on the plane, but he forgot his small carry on at the desk. He was told to file a lost and found report when he got home, but when his carry-on never showed up there, he requested the video from the airport.
"I still have not been able to watch the entire video, because it's just too gut wrenching for me," Brooks said. "Knowing the medication I had in there is very expensive, very hard to get and I needed it. It's taken a lot out of me."
That's when he says he saw the gate agent, and others he never interacted with, taking his things. It appears they hand off some belongings, while pouring his life-saving medication out, while taking cell phone pictures and laughing, and throwing his keys away.
In the bag was valuable jewelry. One pendant was a very sentimental family heirloom.
When asked if he’ll ever want to come back to New Orleans, he answered, “Oh, I certainly want to come back to New Orleans, because my father lives there, and my siblings, but I certainly will never take Spirit Airlines again.”
The airline has apologized to Brooks, saying in a statement obtained by CBS' Los Angeles station KCAL:
"We are aware of this matter, and our vendor suspended four of their employees at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) pending an investigation into the matter. Spirit Airlines is committed to treating all Guests with respect and delivering high-quality service, and we will take appropriate action as necessary following the completion of the vendor's investigation. Spirit has already issued a refund for the flight on February 23, and the vendor is expediting the compensation for the items."
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