Federal Grand Jury Has Indicted the Man Who Gate-Crashed Love Field Runway in August

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Nov. 3 2010 at 2:58 PM

Categories: Crime

Admit it: You forgot all about Michael Laurence Browne, the gentleman who led police on a slow ride through Dallas -- right by Unfair Park HQ, no less -- before landing on the Love Field Airport runway a couple of months back. Browne, charged by Dallas Police with a laundry list of no-no's the day after, has been in custody ever since his gate-crashing on August 19. But the U.S. Attorney's Office just sent word:

At long last, a federal grand jury has indicted Browne on one count of ... let's see here ... "interfering with security screening personnel." Never would have guessed that one. From the release:

The indictment alleges that on August 19, 2010, at Love Field Airport, Browne knowingly assaulted an airport security employee with his truck, a dangerous weapon. When Browne drove the truck through the gate, nearly hitting the security guard, he interfered with the security guard's ability to perform her duty of preventing unauthorized people from entering the secured area of the airport.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted of this offense, Browne faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration-Federal Air Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Foos Pierce is in charge of the prosecution.

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