Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man Who Crashed Through Gate and Onto Secured Area at Love Field Airport
Defendant Faces Up to Life in Prison

DALLAS—A federal grand jury returned an indictment late yesterday charging Michael Browne, 46, of Dallas, with one count of interfering with security screening personnel, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Browne has been in custody, on both related and unrelated charges, since his arrest on August 19, 2010, when he led police on a high-speed car chase through Dallas that ultimately ended when he drove a truck through a closed security gate at Love Field Airport and was eventually caught by police shortly thereafter.

The indictment alleges that on August 19, 2010, at Love Field Airport, Browne knowingly assaulted an airport security employee with his truck, a dangerous weapon. When Browne drove the truck through the gate, nearly hitting the security guard, he interfered with the security guard’s ability to perform her duty of preventing unauthorized people from entering the secured area of the airport.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted of this offense, Browne faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration - Federal Air Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Foos Pierce is in charge of the prosecution.