Leominster man charged in security breach at Worcester MA. airport
WORCESTER MA May 6 2019 – A 31-year-old Leominster man with apparent mental health issues was charged with causing a security breach at Worcester Regional Airport, after he allegedly scaled a fence, stepped over three rungs of barbed wire and drove a fuel truck onto an aircraft taxi area.
Laurence J. Murphy IV, of 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Apt. 407, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Worcester District Court to malicious destruction of property valued at more than $1,200, misdemeanor breaking and entering, using a motor vehicle without authority and trespassing.
Judge David B. Locke ordered Mr. Murphy released on personal recognizance, on the condition he stay away from the airport and comply with an evaluation made by the Veterans Administration. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for June 6.
The security breach occurred just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, when state police received a report that someone had gained access to a 2016 Navistar fuel truck and driven it where airplanes taxi on and off active runways, the police report stated.
The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs the airport, said: “Massport and the State Police have reviewed all security procedures and protocols at the airport. Security measures at Massport facilities are multi-layered and consistent with TSA regulations, and appropriately coordinated with other federal, state and local law enforcement partners. Safety and security is our top priority, and we remain confident that the facility is safe.”
An employee of the Rectrix Aerodome Center, a private company at the airport, told state police the suspect was inside a practice plane that was used for mock rescues by airport firefighting staff.
State police Sgt. Jonathan D. Swift and Trooper Brenda Watts approached the window of the fuselage and tried to talk to Murphy, who smiled and fastened his seat belt, the report said.
At some point, Murphy moved to the cockpit and secured himself in the pilot seat. When state police tried to talk to Murphy he continued to smile.
State police noticed his face was smeared in a black substance, later determined to be cold patch tar.
Trooper Watts dislodged a window and the two troopers entered the plane. Murphy told the sergeant to “figure it out” when he asked what the suspect was doing, the report stated.
Murphy used random words and sentences that bore no relation to what he was being asked, according to state police. A short time later he agreed to leave the plane without incident.
State police said it was apparent Murphy was suffering a mental breakdown. He denied being on narcotics, and there was no indication he was intoxicated, the report said.
An ambulance crew from UMass Memorial Medical Center provided a psychological evaluation. Emergency medical workers told state police Murphy would benefit from a further evaluation, but at that time he did not appear to be a threat to harm himself or others, the report said.
State police removed Murphy from the ambulance and arrested him.
While he was in the cruiser, police said, Murphy explained how he had entered the airfield.
A Rectrix employee told authorities he got in a truck and followed the suspect fuel truck driver to the area of the practice plane. The employee said he got out of his truck and tried to identify the suspect, but retreated when the driver made strange statements and appeared to reach for something, state police said.
A portion of the fuel truck’s dashboard had been ripped out, and the owner of a Ford F-150 also reported damage, for which Murphy was charged.
State police said they spoke to Murphy’s father, of Leicester, who reported that his son had exhibited odd behavior recently, and had declined to come to family functions. The father said he would go to court to try to get his son voluntarily or forcibly committed for an evaluation.
A JetBlue flight had arrived from Florida within an hour of the incident, according to an airline schedule.
There were “no operational impacts,” according to Massport.
In response to a question about possible changes to security protocols, Massport said in a statement: “Immediately after the incident on Wednesday evening, the State Police did a comprehensive sweep of the impacted airport area, as well as the wider security perimeter to ensure there were no other potential threats. The incident ended quickly after a tenant employee appropriately notified law enforcement.”
The scene at the airport was quiet Friday morning, with the exception of a few customers who trickled in and out for rental car transactions.
Rhonda Garron of Worcester said she considered the security breach a “fluke,” and wanted to give the airport the benefit of the doubt because it’s “convenient and great for Worcester.”
“The people that work here as far as the TSAs, they’re doing the best they can,” Garron said.
MetroWestDailyNews
