Indecent exposure wrongful arrest nets United pilot USD300,000

Tuesday, 12 Nov, 2019 0

The city of Denver must pay a United Airlines pilot $300,000 for wrongful arrest over an indecent exposure incident.

Police with firearms drawn stormed the hotel room of Andrew Collins of Leesburg, Virginia last year during a stopover.

He was arrested after airport workers saw him at a 10th-floor window at the Westin at Denver International Airport which overlooks the terminal.

Airport employees alerted police after he was seen ‘fondling himself’ while speaking on the phone.

Collins said he could not see out of the tinted windows but was unaware passers-by could in fact see inside from the main concourse.

Collins’ attorney argued that being naked inside a hotel room is not an offense. The charges were later dropped by a judge.

United Airlines suspended Collins for six months and has since resumed working as a pilot.

However he says he is continually harassed.

"I have been tagged by Homeland Security. Anytime I get back into the country, I am pulled aside and asked if I have been in trouble with the law," the pilot said.

Collins’s attorney also laid some of the blame at the Marriott-run hotel for allowing armed officers into the hotel room without a warrant.

"The DIA Westin performed poorly. We’d like them to step up and acknowledge responsibility."

Collins had originally sought damages of $1 million, and has not ruled out filing a lawsuit in the future.

below social share icons

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

If you’re thinking of cruising, there’s a very good chance you’re considering a Carnival cruise. Growing since our founding in...

Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors. We...

Global Hotel Alliance brings together a unique collection of independent hospitality brands for GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme. GHA...

Jet2.com is the UK’s third largest airline, flying from ten UK airports to more than 60 destinations across Europe and beyond....

We work with reliable data providers with global coverage, that guarantee data representativeness as well as compliance with International Personal...

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s assortment of adventures awaits you. Whether you want to relax on the beach as the sound of...

Nium was founded on the mission to build the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the on-demand...

Located in the Mediterranean and connecting Asia and European continents that are separated by the famous Bosphorus, Türkiye is a...

At Visit California, our mission is to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry...

Wonderful Indonesia Indonesia is a country blessed with countless wonders. What makes this country unique is its diverse culture and...

Consisting of the three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland and...

To say Sweden is fit for a fairy tale is not overstating it—the palaces dazzle, the boreal forests are brimming...

Discover Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, also known as the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast. This natural wonderland is nestled in the...

This is Jersey. An island shaped by the sea where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle...

Atout France guides and supports the French regions with their development strategy and helps set up investment projects in order...

Air Transat is Canada’s number one leisure airline. It flies to some 60 international destinations in more than 25 countries...

The Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is responsible for planning, organising, financing and delivering the...

Arival advances the business of creating amazing in-destination experiences. We provide events, insights, and community for creators and sellers of...