Stowaway, 62, Arrested Again Just Hours After Being Released, Police Say
Marilyn Hartman has been arrested twice so far this week.
— -- Repeat stowaway Marilyn Hartman was arrested again today at Los Angeles International Airport.
The 62-year-old had just been let out of LAX police custody on Wednesday afternoon after she was caught flying without a ticket on Monday.
Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon said a "be on the lookout" alert was issued throughout the airport on Thursday and workers had been actively watching for her. TSA screeners were also alerted that she had been released from police custody on Wednesday and warned to keep watch.
Hartman was seen scouting terminals for about an hour before she was arrested at 11:15 a.m., said airport police. She was charged with violating the terms of her probation, which included staying out of airports unless she has a ticket to fly.
Hartman has a history of trying to board planes, though Monday's arrest was the first time she had successfully been able to fly without a ticket.
Repeat Stowaway, 62, Arrested After Flying on Southwest Without A Ticket
Hartman was charged with misdemeanor trespassing following her Monday flight on a Southwest plane from San Jose to Los Angeles. After she pleaded no contest to the charge, the court ordered her to stay away from LAX unless she had a valid boarding pass and placed her on 24-month probation.
Hartman has had at least five incidents in San Mateo County in the past six months, but part of the reason why she was not caught on Monday is because the San Jose airport staff did not recognize her, authorities said.
Hartman had been caught repeatedly trying to board flights at San Francisco’s international airport without a ticket -- but airport staff have been able to quickly pick her out when she is spotted making her way from the food court to security screenings, authorities said.
Prosecutors described her at a May court hearing as having a major mental illness though no official diagnosis has been publicly released.
"Does she have a mental illness? She might, but she doesn't have what is defined as a major mental illness," San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told ABC on Wednesday.