Watch: Man with weapons at Cleveland airport, first charge filed

CLEVELAND (WJW) — New video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows police confronting a man with weapons at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. And, we’ve uncovered new information about the suspect.

In fact, the first charge, now, has been filed tied to a security scare at the airport.

It happened just after 4 a.m. July 8, first reported on fox8.com.

Gina Hesson and her daughter went to catch a flight, and they captured video of Cleveland Police confronting a man.

She told the I-Team, “So, my daughter and I were catching a flight out of Cleveland. I saw several police officers. One had a taser, I know, and another one, I think, had an actual gun. We weren’t sure, at this point, what this man had.”

Investigators, later, said the suspect had a machete, a hatchet, two knives, and a weighted jump rope.

On the video, you hear police shooting the suspect with a taser, yelling, “Taser.”

“And, I felt like they had it under control. That’s why I felt comfortable getting my camera out. However, when he jumped the counter, I was a little surprised,” Hesson said.

A report shows the suspect took three shots from tasers. Yet, he jumped a ticket counter, ran toward a checkpoint, and then ran down some stairs, where police were able to handcuff Sameer Farraj.

Now, the first court complaint has been filed in this case. A complaint for felony assault. It says, as officers tried to arrest Farraj, he waved a knife, and he tried to stab an officer. In the head and chest.

Hesson did not realize the suspect had a machete, knives, and a hatchet. She said, “It’s a little unnerving.”

Records show Farraj has an address on the city’s west side. And, he a has a record in county court that goes back 15 years for drugs, a sex offense and more.

After this latest incident, Cleveland police took Farraj for a mental health evaluation. And, now, investigators have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Police say they expect to be notified when Farraj is released from the mental health evaluation.

What happened won’t stop Hesson from flying, but she won’t forget it.

“I think I’ll definitely be more aware of my surroundings,” she said. “I did not think twice walking into the Airport that morning, but I, definitely, will the next time.”

While police have begun filing charges, the case will likely go before a grand jury for more charges.

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