Chris Christie's niece, 25, is arrested and accused of biting officer on Spirit Airlines flight after accusing Latino family of 'smuggling cocaine'
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's niece was arrested and dragged off a plane after she allegedly accused a Latino family of 'smuggling cocaine.'
Authorities say Shannon Epstein, 25, then became combative on board the 6am Spirit Airlines flight from New Orleans to New Jersey — and injured six sheriff's deputies, one of whom was bitten in the altercation.
She even threatened the officers trying to get her off the plane, saying her uncle is friends with former President Donald Trump and she knows some powerful people, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Capt. Jason Rivarde told NOLA.com.Epstein ultimately had to be handcuffed to a wheelchair by seven different sheriff's deputies to be forced off the plane, he said.
She is now charged with six counts of battery on a police officer, three counts of disturbing the peace, one of resisting arrest by force and one of remaining after being forbidden.
The foul-mouth niece was released from the Jefferson Parish Correction Center on Thanksgiving Day after posting $10,750 bail. She is due back in court on January 23.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Epstein for comment. According to Rivarde, the whole situation began when Epstein became angry and started being disruptive on board the Thanksgiving Day flight and asked a family who appeared to be Latino whether they were 'smuggling cocaine.'
Airline employees soon decided to remove her from the plane, which had already left the gate at Louis Armstrong International Airport, but she allegedly refused to leave after the plane returned to the tarmac.
Epstein is said to have then become 'extremely combative' when she was approached by Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies and injured six while resisting arrest, including biting one on the arm and breaking their skin.
She allegedly kicked others in the groin and spit on others, NOLA.com reports, all while shouting at them that they would lose their jobs or end up in jail because her uncle is friends with former President Donald Trump and she knows some important people.
The deputies were treated for their injuries on the scene, while seven others worked to handcuff Epstein to a wheelchair to force her off.
As she was wheeled away, Rivarde said, she continued to shout vulgarities and tried to bite more deputies.
The former New Jersey governor has yet to comment on the altercation.
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