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71-Year-Old With Blackjack Arrested At Tampa Airport

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 3, 2008

Updated: 01/03/2008 02:29 pm

TAMPA - Police at Tampa International Airport arrested a 71-year-old woman after finding a leather bludgeon in her bag she said she kept "to hit men's hands when they get fresh," an arrest report states.

  Rafaela Mendez

Rafaela Mendez was taken to Orient Road Jail today, charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor. Her bail was set at $500.

Police also booked her on an active felony warrant from Hillsborough County charging her with obtaining property for a worthless check. Jail records give no permanent address for Mendez, but a criminal report affidavit lists her as living in Tampa.

Mendez was traveling alone and passing through the screening area at Airside C about 4 a.m. today for a Spirit Airlines flight to Puerto Rico when a Transportation Security Administration employee observed what appeared to be a blackjack in her carry-on bag, police said.

A blackjack is a small leather bludgeon used as a weapon. The one Mendez had measured 7 1/2 inches long, a report states.

Such items are prohibited aboard an aircraft, according to warning signs posted in the airport, police said.

Questioned about the weapon, Mendez told police she carried the blackjack "to hit men's hands when they get fresh," an arrest report states. A criminal report affidavit quotes her differently, saying she told police she used the blackjack to "smack people's hands when they got fresh."

Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said police often will let travelers surrender a weapon, continue on their trip and attend court when they return. They decided to take Mendez into custody because of the outstanding warrant.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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