SUPER MD80 CABIN ATTENDANT THREATENED WITH VERBAL ABUSE AND PHYSICALLY TOUCHED BY IRATE PAX OVER LOCATION OF CARRY ON BAG.

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PAX; MRS X; HAD REMOVED ANOTHER PAX'S BAG FROM THE OVERHEAD BIN. I HAD COME OVER TO PAX; MRS X; AND INSTRUCTED THAT SHE MUST MOVE HER BAG TO ANOTHER OVERHEAD BIN OR HAVE IT GATE CHKED. I EXPLAINED TO MRS X THAT OVERHEAD BINS ARE SHARED SPACE. THE PAX'S RESPONSE WAS 'WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO MAKE THE BAG DISAPPEAR?' I REPEATED MY INSTRUCTION AND PAX'S RESPONSE WAS ABUSIVE. PAX REFUSED TO MOVE HER BAG OR CHK IT. I WENT TO THE FLT ATTENDANT #1 FOR ASSISTANCE; WHO REITERATED MY INSTRUCTIONS (THE GATE AGENT CHK HER BAG). 20 MINS INTO THE FLT PAX; MRS X; LEFT HER SEAT AND APCHED ME IN THE GALLEY. SHE SAID 'WHAT IS YOUR NAME?' THEN SAID ANGRILY; 'PRAY TO GOD MY BAG IS THERE WHEN I GET THERE OR YOU WILL SEE.' I RESPONDED DON'T THREATEN ME. SHE REPEATED IT AGAIN THEN GRABBED MY R ARM AND SAID THAT BAG BETTER BE THERE. I INSTRUCTED HER NOT TO TOUCH ME; THAT I WOULD NOT TOLERATE HER THREATS OR VERBAL ABUSE ANYMORE. SHE CALLED ME A LIAR SEVERAL TIMES. I WENT TO THE CAPT TO EXPLAIN THE SIT. THE FO WENT TO THE PAX; READ TO HER IT WAS A FEDERAL OFFENSE TO TOUCH A FLT ATTENDANT. SHE WAS STILL CARRYING ON AND HE TOLD HER NOT TO HARASS HIS FLT ATTENDANT OR TOUCH THEM OR HE WILL LAND THE ACFT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT FLL THE POLICE MET THE ACFT. I DID NOT PRESS CHARGES ON HER. THE POLICE RESPONSE WAS SHE WAS TRAVELING WITH A SICK HUSBAND AND SHE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN. TO ME THAT IS NO EXCUSE FOR HER BEHAVIOR. MY JOB IS SAFETY NOT TO BE ABUSED BY PAX.