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Airport Bathroom Indecency On The Rise

Posted: 6:25 pm EST January 19, 2007Updated: 7:01 pm EST January 19, 2007

Atlanta Police have arrested 11 men on indecency charges at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in the past month alone – two of them, college professors. Investigators believe an internet site is encouraging men to meet there.

Channel 2 has been digging through police reports and we found nearly a dozen men who police say have used the bathroom at the airport to try and hook up with other men. Officers want everyone to know this type of illegal activity won’t be tolerated.

A men’s restroom at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has become the playground for men who want to pleasure themselves in public and try to pick up other men according to police. Since December, officers have arrested and charged 11 men with public indecency. The list includes University of North Carolina Professor Dr. Hugh Tilson and Spelman College Professor Lev T. Mills.

“He was masturbating while watching other patrons in the restroom,” explained B.C. Williams with the Atlanta Police Department.

We were there when Mills went to court to answer the charge. The men are accused of using what’s known as the “West Crossover Bathroom” to commit their crimes. Police think they know what the bathroom has become such a hot spot.

“We have found web sites where people have mentioned meeting at Hartsfield-Jackson,” said Major Darryl Tolleson with the APD.

Police reports indicate men from North Carolina and Missouri have traveled to Hartsfield-Jackson and were arrested. One man focused his attention in the bathroom on military men and another performed sex acts with children nearby.

“Makes me want to go to the bathroom before we come to the airport,” said parent Anthony Montoya.

Police have been very successful catching the men because of plain-clothes officers. “The plain-clothes units have been absolutely a key part of keeping this airport safe,” said Maj. Tolleson.

Officers have a message for men planning to come to the airport and use the bathroom for their dirty deeds.

“If you want to conduct any type of criminal activity you need to find another place,” Tolleson said.

Police want to stress that no one has been sexually assaulted and once again they say their plain-clothes officers have done a wonderful job catching the suspects. Detectives are also monitoring web sites and trying to re-direct the activity that’s encouraging the men to come here.

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