Naked man tased by police at Atlanta airport

ATLANTA — Police arrested and charged a man who was caught on video running around Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport without any clothes.

Investigators are trying to figure out what sparked the incident that happened around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

In the video shot by passenger Gregory Evans, you can see the man jumping and yelling as he is confronted by several officers in a gate area.

Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution police were called to gate A21 after a ticketed passenger "suddenly appeared nude … and began yelling and acting erratically."

Police identified the man as 23-year-old Derrick Weems.

Witnesses say Weems was screaming about his love for Jesus and that he was going to heaven.

Some passengers say it took too long for police to arrive.

"No security, no police or nothing," Evans said.

Evans says Weems stood near the gate for around 30 minutes before police got there. Police say they got there in seven minutes.

"If he's in that situation, unclothed in a public position and acting like that, I would think that he's a danger to anybody in and around that concourse," said air traveler Bernard Roberts. "If he's on a plane that would not have been good."

Passengers said they didn't know if Weems was a threat or someone suffering from a mental condition.

In the video, you can see the officers attempting to talk to Weems and calm him down. Police say when he continued to act erratically, they "used a Taser to control the situation without a struggle."

Weems was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He was also taken to the hospital for a mental evaluation.
 
There is no indication the incident interrupted any flights.

WSBTV