Ruth Sherman, 88, of Sunrise says TSA agents at JFK Airport made her pull down her pants

Suspicious about her colostomy bag she says

Aviary_gb-tmp-thunderstone-com_Picture_1_20110913174356_PNG


Photographer: AP Graphics Bank
Copyright Associated Press

advertisement

Posted: 12/05/2011

NEW YORK (AP) -- A second senior citizen is claiming the Transportation Security Administration made her pull down her pants as part of a search at New York's Kennedy Airport.

Ruth Sherman, 88, of Sunrise, Fla., told WCBS television ( http://cbsloc.al/sD3xsS ) that agents were suspicious about her colostomy bag and asked her to pull down the waist of her pants so they could see it on Nov. 28.

"This is private for me, you know? It's bad enough that I have it," Sherman said. "That was the first time I had to do that."

The TSA is investigating the claim, agency spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said Monday. She said the TSA has no record of any complaint by Sherman.

Sherman did not answer telephone calls placed to her home on Monday.

She told WCBS she decided to come forward after hearing about the case of 85-year-old Lenore Zimmerman. Zimmerman says TSA agents made her take off her pants on Tuesday. Both searches occurred at the JetBlue terminal.

The TSA says Zimmerman opted out of a screening machine and told officers she was wearing a back brace or support belt that required a private inspection. The agency says two female officers removed the item, screened it and sent Zimmerman on her way.

"While we regret that the passenger feels she had an unpleasant screening experience, TSA does not include strip searches as part of our security protocols and one was not conducted in this case," the agency said in a written statement.

© 2011 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  • Comments
  • Marketplace

Featured Stories


  1. Hair apparent:Transplant breakthrough

    Hair apparent:Transplant breakthrough

    A new method helps to fill in what's falling out.

  2. 3 Florida cities on most well-read list

    3 Florida cities on most well-read list

    Rankings based on number of books, magazines, newspapers bought by Amazon customers.

    • Searching for your roots

      Searching for your roots

      Searching for family members these days is a lot easier than a trip to a records office or even a cemetery.

    Advertisement
    • What's Trending Now...
     

    Latest News Stories


    1. Peanut Island rule starts Friday

      Peanut Island rule starts Friday

      On any given weekend, all you have to do is take a right after stepping off the pier on this schizophrenic little island and you're suddenly in the biggest party this side of Cancun.

      • West Palm fire lieutenant arrested

      • Mental health help for Boca Raton PD

      • $30,000 offer for short sale

      • Acreage illegal dumping being curtailed

      • St. Lucie nuke oversight meeting

      • Stay Connected