A former NFL player was arrested for reportedly urinating on a fellow passenger and assaulting another on Delta Air Lines Flight 154.
The Boston to Dublin, Ireland flight was en route early Sunday when it was diverted and forced to return to Logan International Airport “because of an unruly passenger who urinated on another passenger on board,” Massachusetts State Police said in a statement to 7 News WHDH.
The passenger was identified by police as Gosder Cherilus, 40, of Wakefield, Massachusetts. Cherilus was drafted into the NFL in 2008 by the Detroit Lions after playing as an offensive tackle on the Boston College team from 2005 to 2007. He played five seasons with Detroit, two with the Indianapolis Colts and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2016.
According to police, the incident started when Cherilus began arguing about seating arrangements on the plane, with witnesses describing Cherilus as being “disruptive, irritable, delirious and aggressive.” Officials also said Cherilus “was consuming alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated prior to the flight.”
Between 40 and 60 minutes after takeoff, Cherilus stood up, walked to an occupied seat, exposed himself, and began urinating on an elderly female, officers reported. He then woke up an elderly man to try and take his seat, argued with him, and then struck him with his hand, cops said.
Police said troopers boarded the aircraft after they were alerted of the incident around 2 a.m. Sunday and “verbally commanded Cherilus to leave the plane, but he became irate and uncooperative.”
“Eventually, Troopers escorted Cherilus to the jet bridge and placed him under arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing a Flight Crew,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, other passengers were placed on a different flight to Dublin Sunday, a Delta spokesperson told USA TODAY Monday.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement to that end,” the spokesperson said. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel.”
Cherilus was arraigned Monday in East Boston District Court. He did not provide any comment to reporters outside of the courthouse.
