Menu

Woman who led officers on chase through Orlando airport on motorized suitcase refuses plea deal

officer and woman at orlando international airport
Credit: Orlando Police Department/OrlandoAirports

Recently, we brought you the story of a New Jersey woman who led police on a slow “chase” through the Orlando airport as she refused to comply with their requests after being denied boarding by airline staff members because she was intoxicated. The woman has now refused a plea deal offered to her by prosecutors.

woman at orlando airport with officer

Credit: Orlando Police Department

Chelsea Alston was traveling from Orlando to New York when the incident occurred. A Southwest Airlines gate agent refused to allow Alston to board the aircraft when she appeared to be inebriated. Airline personnel called for Orlando Police officers to intervene as Alston was drunk and angry about not being on her plane to New York. When an officer asked her to go to the airport’s main terminal so she could sober up and book another flight, she refused and instead rode away on her motorized suitcase, which was more of an electric vehicle mounted to her luggage.

RELATED: Man refuses mask, harasses other passengers, is arrested at Orlando International Airport

woman rides suitcase at orlando international airport

Credit: Orlando Police Department

If she’s convicted, she could face a maximum of five years in prison for each felony count she received. She has pleaded not guilty.

Alston can be seen in a video here as she rides her suitcase through Orlando International Airport as an officer follows behind her on his bicycle.

“We’re going to have a bike pursuing a suitcase in a minute,” says Officer Andrew Mamone while riding his bicycle trying to reach Alston as she rode away from him.

bodycam on bike orlando police department

Credit: Orlando Police Department

During a trial management meeting held on Monday of this week, Alston told officials she wanted to proceed with a jury trial. Her charges include battering an officer and causing more than $1,000 in property damage. Prosecutors had offered her the opportunity to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges instead, but she declined the offer.

passenger under arrest orlando international airport

Credit: Orlando Police Department

Alston earned both charges for behaviors toward the officer; the video shows her spitting on the officer more than once, and then when she was in the patrol car, she tore up the vehicle’s headliner and then defecated in the seat. Damages to the officer’s vehicle are estimated at $1,200, according to the arrest report from the Orlando Police Department.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!