Cops: Ex-Marine asked for Trump
ORLANDO — A me n t a l l y distressed ex-Marine who pointed a fake handgun at police in the Orlando International Airport and shouted “kill me” said he wanted to speak to the president, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday.
Michael Wayne Pettigrew, 26, was arrested after the almost three-hour standoff that ended peacefully Tuesday night. Police have called it an attempted “suicide by cop.”
Pettigrew was charged with aggravated assault on a firefighter and was forcibly committed for short-term mental health observation under what is commonly referred to as Florida’s “Baker Act.”
Court records show Petti- grew was denied bail Wednesday because of his mental health evaluation, but another bond hearing was scheduled for today.
The episode started Tuesday night when Pettigrew approached a cashier at a taxi company in the airport and showed her what looked like a gun. Pettigrew gave his cellphone to her and told her to call 911 because he wanted to summon the police and speak to the president, according to the affidavit.
Pettigrew pointed the fake gun at officers as they arrived at the airport’s rental car section and also pointed the gun at himself. But no shots were fired, and no one was hurt. One officer raised the muzzle of his rifle to get a clear view of Pettigrew but didn’t fire because passengers “were running everywhere,” the affidavit said.
“Passengers at this point were running in all directions, making it a little chaotic,” the report said.
Part of the airport was temporarily evacuated, and traffic going into the airport was halted for a short time.