ACR FLT CREW MEMBER REFUSED TO LET SECURITY PERSONNEL SEARCH BAGGAGE.

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I AM A F/O FOR AIRLINE FLYING LGT ACFT. ON THE NIGHT OF 7/SUN/88 I WAS IN SLC TO FLY FLT TO DEN AND ATL. IN MY SUITCASE I HAD MY REQUIRED TOOL KIT (PLIERS; SCREWDRIVER; SWISS ARMY KNIFE). I; WITH MY CREW; WENT THROUGH THE SECURITY AREA. THEY (SECURITY) WANTED ME TO OPEN MY SUITCASE. I TOLD THEM I HAD MY TOOLS WHICH INCLUDED A KNIFE IN IT. WHEN I OPENED THE SUITCASE ONE OF THE SECURITY PEOPLE TRIED TO REACH INTO AND TAKE OUT MY PERSONAL EFFECTS. I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE OUT THE THINGS OUT; THAT SHE DIDN'T NEED TO DIG THROUGH MY THINGS. I TOOK OUT MY PLIERS AND SCREWDRIVER AND SHOWED THEM. SHE AGAIN TRIED TO REACH INTO THE SUITCASE AT WHICH TIME I TOLD HER NOT TO; THAT I WOULD GET THE ITEMS OUT. I TOLD HER IF SHE WANTED TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT; SHE COULD DIG THROUGH THE SUITCASE. AT THIS POINT SHE CALLED A MAN OVER. HE TRIPPED TO GET INTO THE SUITCASE AND I SAID NO; THAT I WOULD GET THE ITEMS OUT AND HE COULD GET A WARRANT IF HE WANTED TO GO THROUGH MY PERSONAL EFFECTS. AT THIS POINT; HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO CALL A SUPVR. I TOLD HIM THAT WOULD BE FINE. WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO PHONE; THE CAPT TRIED TO TALK TO HIM. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION BTWN THE 2 OF THEM (I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING THEY SAID TO EACH OTHER); THE CAPT CAME OVER TO ME AND TOLD ME TO GO TO THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE NON PUBLIC ACCESS ROUTE. I SAID OK; AND PUT MY THINGS BACK IN MY SUITCASE AND PROCEEDED TO THE ACFT. THE SECURITY PERSONNEL SENT ONE OF THEIR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW ME TO THE AIRPLANE. I PERFORMED MY NORMAL DUTIES AS F/O AND THE FLT DEPARTED ON SCHEDULE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE LADY THAT FOLLOWED ME TO THE ARPT FILED A RPT THAT I GAVE HER A FALSE NAME. SHE ALSO RPTED THAT I GAVE HER PERMISSION TO SEARCH MY SUITCASE WHILE I WAS DOING THE ACFT PREFLT AND WHILE DOING SO FOUND A 'LARGE' SURVIVAL KNIFE. ALL SUCH STATEMENTS ARE COMPLETELY UNTRUE.