This was published 4 years ago
Endeavor Air pilot arrested, sacked over writing pro-Trump graffiti in airport
By Karl Etters
Endeavor Air is a regional subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.Credit: Bloomberg
A 53-year-old Endeavor Air pilot was arrested on Friday after police say he tagged bathrooms, elevators and cars at the Tallahassee International Airport in the US with messages supporting President Donald Trump and racial slurs.
The graffiti the Tallahassee Police Department traced to James E. Dees included things like "#MAGA," a nod to the president's popularised slogan, "Send them all back" and multiple racial slurs directed at African-Americans and Hispanics, court records show.
The vandalism began just two days before Christmas in 2018.
Pilot James E. Dees was arrested in connection with pro-Trump, racially offensive graffiti at the Tallahassee International Airport.Credit: TNS
A few tags include anti-Trump graffiti, perhaps to throw police off his trail, including "Impeachment is coming" and "Impeach Trump the Traitor." Police pointed to 20 different instances of vandalism that they believe are connected to Dees.
Dees, of Perry, was captured after a surveillance camera was hidden in an elevator at the airport following the spate of graffiti. He is charged with nine counts of criminal mischief and bonded out of jail at about 1 p.m. Friday.
An estimate for damages is close to $US200 ($A295), according to court records. He faces a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $US500 ($A739) fine.
Endeavor Air is a regional subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. A Delta spokesperson issued a statement on behalf of Endeavor stating that "These actions in no way reflect the values of Endeavor Air, and this individual is no longer employed by the airline."
On December 12, investigators believed they captured footage of the graffiti in progress. Dees, who at that time had only been identified as a pilot, entered the elevator in the airport's parking lot at about 5pm.
In the video, according to court records, he can be seen turning to one panel, making motions consistent with writing, then exiting the elevator.
On January 7, Dees was approached by Tallahassee Police officers as he waited for his outbound flight. When he was told about the covert camera, he admitted to the graffiti.
He confirmed he did the writing on vehicles in the parking lot, in the elevator and in the men's bathroom, telling police he has been going through a "really rough time," and has anger issues.
He was told he was allowed to leave, and he began to board the flight. Instead, he returned and told police he was not in the "right state of mind" to fly a plane, and he left the airport.
The arrest comes on the same day that airport officials disclosed that they are working to repair an aircraft landing instrument that has caused multiple flight delays after it was damaged earlier this week by a man who drove a FedEx truck onto the runway.
Earlier this week, the US Department of Transportation fined Delta Air Lines $US50,000 ($74,000) for alleged discrimination against Muslim passengers in two separate incidents in 2016.
TNS
See also: US airline fined $74,000 for removing Muslim passengers
See also: Flight attendants sue over new uniforms
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