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SALT LAKE CITY -- A man boarding a flight at Salt Lake International Airport was arrested by the FBI Wednesday afternoon for carrying a weapon on board an aircraft. He is accused of intentionally sneaking a pocketknife through airport security.
Cardon Ellis appears to be an aspiring comedian and filmmaker, but he missed his flight home to New York City after he snuck a multi-tool through security. Now he's locked up in the Salt Lake County jail.
Go online and you can meet Ellis. Videos of his experiences during his first 48 hours in New York City range from running around in a park wearing a Speedo to fighting a Jedi with a lightsaber on a city street. To federal authorities at Salt Lake International Airport, though, his behavior was no laughing matter.
According to a federal complaint, Ellis "boasted to another passenger that he could get a knife through security, without detection."
Ellis was apparently successful, because after getting past the checkpoint, he showed that passenger his knife. While Ellis may have thought it was funny, the passenger was not amused and reported him to TSA security officials.
When Ellis saw the passenger talk to the TSA official, surveillance video showed him move something from his pocket to his carry-on luggage. After being confronted, Ellis eventually produced the knife from his carry-on and was arrested.
It may be some time before he is able to return to New York City. The charge of carrying a weapon on board an aircraft carries a penalty of up to 10 years in a federal penitentiary, if he is convicted.
Even after his arrest, Ellis seemed to still have his sense of humor. When he was booked into jail and asked if he had any aliases, he replied: "Good Looking." His mood may change, however, when he faces a federal magistrate Friday morning.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
