Strong security, detective work lead to gate-runner's arrest

Published May 7, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Tanya Holditch
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Each time 81st Security Forces Squadron members remove their weapons from the armory, the possibility exists that they may have to use them.

This is exactly what Airman 1st Class Michelle Alomia had to consider April 22 while assigned to Entry Control Point 7, the Pass Road Gate. In her first month of on-the-job training, she said she was forced to rely on what she has been taught so far.

Airman Alomia said she saw a car run through the Pass Road gate and strike the metal bollard (used to prevent unauthorized entries), causing it to become a projectile.

"I went to Officer (Christopher) D'Amore (Southeast Protective Services, Inc.) because he was down and was trying to get up. I saw the bollard hit him, and he thought it was the car's fender that hit him," she said. "Every day this is a possibility--a gate run, but I have been trained on what to do," she said.

Mr. D'Amore was taken to the emergency room where he was treated for a broken leg.

Airman Alomia watched the vehicle speed down Ploesti Drive when she debated on whether to open fire, she said.

"Should I engage or not? The proper use of force is a big thing in security forces," she said. "It happened so fast."

Airman Alomia said she ultimately decided not to use her weapon because the suspect was too far away, and the flightline, base housing and student dormitories were all in her field of fire. If she did shoot but missed, the bullet could have injured or killed an innocent person, she said.

"For this young Airman to have had to make a choice like that with only one month on the job, and for her to make the right choice, is a testimony to security forces training and her judgment," said Maj. Joseph Musacchia, 81st SFS commander. "We have a lot of young people stepping up to the plate doing the right thing at the right time, showing the warrior ethos."

The situation was turned over to Tech. Sgt. Michael Munyon, 81st SFS, when he received a call on the radio to respond to an alleged gate-runner. Security forces members were dispatched to housing areas, the marina and the flightline where they continued with sector searches. They utilized all technology, resources and capabilities available to them such as military working dogs, thermal imagers mounted on vehicles and night vision goggles, said Major Musacchia.

"Sergeant Munyon had to make a tactical decision --how many forces he could allocate and where," said Major Musacchia. "He had to decide whether this was a criminal or a terrorist act. He cannot dedicate all of his forces to one sector when the suspect's location is unknown."

Security forces discovered an abandoned vehicle near the golf course and determined the suspect was on foot, according to Major Musacchia. Daniel Burruss, 81st SFS investigator, said he found alcohol, construction hard hats, a Mexican calling card and Mexican newspapers in the vehicle.

After gathering evidence and using many modern policing techniques, security forces personnel determined the suspect was no longer on the installation and no longer posed a threat to Keesler members, said Major Musacchia.

Investigator Burruss said he used clues he found in the abandoned vehicle to track down the suspect, including fingerprints on the beer bottles. There were five key pieces of information, leading to five different individuals, none of whom turned out to be the suspect, he said.

Investigator Burruss aggressively pursued the leads, putting together the evidence like pieces of a puzzle. Through creative interviewing techniques and the hard work of Investigator Burruss, security forces were able to locate and apprehend the suspect within 48 hours of the alleged incident, said Major Musacchia.

The suspect is now in the custody of the U. S. Marshals Service at the Harrison County Detention Center, awaiting trial.

"I feel relieved he got caught," said Airman Alomia. "We had great teamwork -- no one did it by themselves. I am more confident because I experienced a real situation. I am better prepared now, but because of my training, I knew what to do."