Wednesday, March 5, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Lionell D. Rutherford, 23, was charged with assaulting and interfering with flight attendants on the Sun Country Airlines flight. The federal charge carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marilyn A. Bobula said Rutherford used profanity, slapped the hand and forearm of one attendant and threw a coat at another as they tried to settle him down.
The attendants alerted the cockpit crew, which called Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and arranged to have the flight met by police officers who arrested Rutherford. No one was hurt, Ms. Bobula said.
Rutherford could not be reached for comment. A message requesting comment was left at his home.
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