According to a law enforcement video released Thursday, a Southwest Airlines pilot was pulled out of the cockpit and arrested police for accusing a bag of nicotine when he said he smelled alcohol on allegations that he had attempted to fly while in a disability.
According to a report from the Chatham County Police Department, David Allsop was at the helm of a flight 3772 from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and at the helm of a Chicago Midway tied up by Chicago Midway.
When asked if he had been drinking recently, Allsop said “10 hours ago.”
“Do you define some beer?” Officer Josiah asked.
“Some beers,” replied the pilot.
“Do you define some beer?” is most repeated.
“Like three,” the pilot said. “Light beer, Mirror Light.”
He was asked by Earl, who has been 53 since the incident, and agreed to a sobriety test on the field and asked if the pilot refused, saying “it’s not necessary.”
“You can smell the smell that matches alcoholic drinks,” he replied best.
At that time, Allsop took a nicotine pouch from his mouth, dropped it, picked it up and showed it to his partner with the best, according to footage and written report.
“In addition, we observed that Allsop had bloody, watery eyes and a flushed complexion,” he said best in his report.
Allsop finally agreed to a sobriety test on the field, and he had trouble following the tip of a moving pen and standing on one leg, police said.
“It’s worth noting that Allsop couldn’t follow the tip of my pen with his eyes as directed. Instead, he moved his head and neck during the test,” according to Best. “Allsap swayed with his leg at a 45-degree angle.”
Allsop was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
He was “removed from duties shortly after the alleged incident and was no longer employed by Southwest Airlines,” the airline said in a statement Friday.
Allsop’s defense attorney David Chaiken argued that the video footage showed no evidence that the client had a disability.
“The recently released Bodycam video confirms what’s obvious to those watching it. Captain Allsop did not commit any crime,” Chaiken said in a statement Friday.
“The experts who reviewed the video concluded that the tests that led to his arrest were not performed correctly and did not follow the proper procedures.”
