A Southwest Airlines flight to Texas was delayed last week when an allegedly drunken passenger refused to disembark the airplane and became violent with police in New Orleans.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office told a local news outlet, the New Orleans Advocate, that the passenger, identified as 25-year-old Kamaryn Gibson, was removed from the May 29 flight because of her belligerent behaviour.

Other passengers onboard the flight captured video of Gibson’s arrest at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. In the since-viral video posted to social media, Gibson appears visibly intoxicated and is slurring her words.

@kicknit35

When you get removed from your #flight and arrested for being to #drunk #southwest #southwestairlines #cops #nola #memorialday #cameron @Southwest Airlines your #flightattendants handled the situation perfectly. They asked her nicely to get off the flight, but she refused numerous times, so they called in for assistance. The police did try to remove her without force prior to the video, but she wasn’t having any of it.

♬ original sound – Johnathan Fancher

Captain Jason Rivarde, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, told the Advocate the woman was asked to leave the plane because she refused to remove her feet from the seat in front of her. Gibson allegedly kicked the head of the passenger in the seat ahead of her.

Gibson, an Olathe, Kan. native, refused to depart the plane “multiple times” despite requests from flight staff and police, Rivarde said. When the police resorted to forcefully removing her from the plane, several passengers can be heard clapping in the video. One traveller shouted an enthusiastic “Thank you!”

“This is not going to end well,” another quipped as Gibson was pulled down the plane’s aisle by three officers.

As police pulled at her arms, Gibson resisted and asked to retrieve her cell phone from her seat.

“I literally need my phone. I paid for that,” Gibson slurred as the officers continued to pull her toward the exit.

“I’m so confused what’s happening,” Gibson said as one officer put handcuffs on her.

“Yeah, well, we’re not,” another passenger replied.

When Gibson asked the passenger to explain what was happening, they simply said, “It looks like you’re getting arrested.”

Rivarde said Gibson continued to fight officers once on the jet bridge. He said she kicked two officers and bit the third on the thigh.

She was eventually restrained in a wheelchair and brought to the airport’s police office.

Gibson was arrested and charged with two counts of disturbing the peace, criminal mischief, two counts of resisting an officer by way of force or violence, and three counts of battery on a police officer.

She was released from the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on May 30 on US$9,750 (nearly $13,000) bond.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Police in Newfoundland and Labrador say three people are facing charges following the alleged abduction of a 14-year-old girl.

Const. James Cadigan with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says a 72-year-old man from New Brunswick, along with a 63-year-old-woman and a 69-year-old man from Milltown, N.L., have been arrested.

The trio have been charged with abduction and conspiracy to commit abduction, while the 72-year-old has also been charged with child luring.

Police issued an Amber Alert for the missing 14-year-old Thursday at 5:37 p.m. and found her safe around 1:15 a.m. the next day as officers approached a cabin in the area of the Bay d’Espoir Highway.

They say the 63-year-old woman and 69-year-old man were with the child and arrested at the scene, and the 72-year-old man had been arrested hours earlier in the central Newfoundland town of Badger.

Cadigan says police believe the girl knew the 72-year-old, who had allegedly travelled to Newfoundland from New Brunswick seeking the girl.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2023.

© 2023 The Canadian Press

Move over Flames and Oilers – some dedicated Calgarians are now going head-to-head in their own Battle of Alberta.

It’s a battle that brings all kinds of benefits for kids who definitely deserve a boost.

The competition is part of a fun challenge pitting the north of the province against the south as people take part in a Walk and Roll fundraising event during June.

Participants get out whenever they can, on foot, on bikes or in wheelchairs.

“It brings so many different individuals together that are all living with physical challenges, getting them out to be active,” event organizer Sheralee Stelter said.

Stelter is with Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families, one of eight Alberta charitable agencies taking part in the effort.

The money raised goes toward programs that support people living with disabilities.

The participating agencies also provide medical equipment for their clients and adaptive bikes for kids like five-year-old Oscar.

‘(The bike) allows him to be around other kids his age and join her sister when she’s out on her bike,” Oscar’s mom Tracy Oh said. “It’s awesome.”

Money raised by the Walk and Rollers also helps cover the cost of sending kids with disabilities to special adaptive camps during the summer.

“It boosts the self-esteem and helps them be part of what they’re deserving of,” said Tricia Spruit of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association. “It gives them that opportunity to just be a kid.”

Spruit says no matter who comes out on top in this Battle of Alberta “everybody’s a winner.”

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Police in Nova Scotia are investigating the theft of three crosses from a cemetery.

According to Richmond County District RCMP, the crosses were taken sometime between May 27 and June 1. The cemetery is located on Church Street in Lower River Inhabitants, N.S.

Anyone with information about the theft can call RCMP at 902-535-2002 or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A car fire in West Kelowna early Friday caused a great deal of concern for the amount of smoke it pumped out but in the end, emergency crews were able to snuff out the blaze before it spread.

It was just after 6 a.m. Friday when firefighters were alerted to a vehicle fire in the Boucherie area near Vineyard Drive and East Boundary Road.

“The smoke and fire was highly visible,” Jason Brolund, West Kelowna fire chief, said in an email.

Multiple photos on social media of the smoke indicate it was a concern among area residents for its proximity to homes.

“The vehicle was extinguished quickly. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation along with the RCMP.”

Brolund thanked the public for reporting the fire to 911  which allowed firefighters to respond quickly and prevent the blaze from spreading.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Guelph police say one vehicle has minor damage while an SUV was fleeing officers during a hit-and-run on Thursday.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m., police said an officer wasn patrolling in the area of Silvercreek Parkway and Woodlawn Road.

While driving in front of the cruiser, a white BMW X3 suddenly accelerated and sideswiped another car as it continued travelling on Silvercreek, police allege.

No one was hurt and police said they did not pursue the SUV in the interest of public safety.

Authorities said three men in their 20s were seen in the vehicle, which had Quebec licence plates.

The SUV was last seen travelling south on the Hanlon Expressway.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A home in Kelowna’s Upper Mission neighbourhood was the site of a late-night serious crime investigation.

Police said late Thursday that there was no concern for public safety, however,  they asked that those in the area stay back from the scene.

In an email, police said that the investigation was in its early stages and there would be no further updates at that time.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Residents of Guelph and Waterloo Region can breathe a little easier as Environment Canada has lifted the special air quality statement for the area.

The move was unexpected as in Thursday’s statement, the agency had warned that the high levels of pollution could last throughout the weekend.

The area had experienced poor air quality for several days this week prompting the cancellation of outdoor sporting activities by area school boards and community organizations.

The poor air quality resulted from a torrent of wildfires burning throughout Ontario and Quebec, which caused smoke plumes to head south, deteriorating air quality down into the United States.

As of Friday morning, there were still 427 wildfires burning across Canada, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, so the area may not be fully clear going forward.

 

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A man has been charged in connection with two fires in Surrey.

On May 28 just before midnight, Surrey firefighters and Mounties responded to a fire at a building on 117 Street. The building has two businesses on the lower level and residential units above.

Both the top and lower levels of the building suffered “significant fire and water damage,” police said.

Less than 12 hours later, firefighters and police a man was reported to be setting bushes on fire near 104 Ave. and 122 Street.

Surrey RCMP officers found a man who was hiding in the area and arrested him.

On June 1, Paul Robinson, 52, was charged with arson and arson to inhabited property.

He has been remanded into custody until his next court appearance on June 13, 2023.

“Thankfully no one was injured as a result of these fires,” said Sgt. Tammy Lobb.

“With the dry conditions leading into summer and ongoing wildfires around the province, Surrey RCMP is asking the public to report any suspicious activity related to fires.”

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An ATM from Servus Credit Union was stolen early Monday using a backhoe taken from a nearby construction site RCMP say.

At around 3 a.m. on Monday, Rimbey RCMP were informed of a break-in at the Service Credit Union.

RCMP are still investigating but say it looks as if the suspect or suspects stole a backhoe from a nearby construction site and used it to remove an ATM from the credit union.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.