BULLHEAD CITY – Authorities report the arrest of a transient they say is responsible for separate security incursions at the Laughlin Bullhead International Airport. Police responded at about 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 to a report that a man carrying bolt cutters had jumped over a secured fence at the property in the 2200 block of South Laughlin View Drive.
“For unknown reasons, the male suspect then cut off the locks to several electric power panels and removed wires and electric fuses, causing a power outage to the air traffic control tower,’’ said police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt. “When the airport security confronted the man, he took off running int the desert prior to police arrival.”
A subsequent DPS helicopter aerial search did not locate suspect.
Fromelt said it was determined that a transient identified as Kurt Baxter, 30, was arrested for an outstanding warrant when detained Oct. 5 when contacted while possessing bolt cutters just beyond the airport fencing. Baxter was taken into custody without incident on Sunday for burglary, trespassing and criminal damage charges.
Fromelt said it is not known what motivated the airport antagonism.
