NEWARK, N.J. — A man from Monroe County was caught with a turtle concealed in his pants on Friday.
On Friday, an East Stroudsburg man was walking through a TSA body scanner at Newark Liberty International Airport when the scanner triggered an alarm in his groin area.
The TSA officer did a pat-down of the area where the alarm was triggered and found there was something hidden in his groin area.
When the TSA officer asked if something was hidden, the man pulled out a live red-ear slider turtle about 5 inches long wrapped in a small blue towel.
Port Authority Police questioned the man, took possession of the turtle, and said they would contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local animal control officials.
The man missed his flight and was escorted out of the checkpoint by police.
“I commend our officer who conducted the pat-down in a very professional manner in an effort to resolve the alarm,” said Thomas Carter, TSA’s Federal Security Director for New Jersey. “We have seen travelers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, in their shoes, and in their luggage. However, I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants. As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”