A federal grand jury has indicted Bryan John Parker, 58, of Holly Hill, on charges of damaging or destroying airport facilities and unlawfully entering a secure area at Daytona Beach International Airport, according to an April 6 announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The case highlights concerns about security breaches at airports and the potential risks posed when unauthorized individuals access restricted areas.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint, Parker allegedly crashed his Ford Mustang through a closed gate into a restricted section of the airport on March 25. Once inside, he reportedly drove toward one of the runways before leaving his vehicle. Authorities say Parker then ran around on foot, urinated on the taxiway, chased after taxiing aircraft, climbed into several empty planes, and attempted to enter the cabin of an active aircraft before being apprehended by security personnel.
If convicted on all counts, Parker faces up to 30 years in federal prison. "An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty," Kehoe said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with assistance from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Federal Air Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan is prosecuting the case.
