TSA agent caught rough handling bomb-sniffing dog at Detroit airport, sparking investigation

DETROIT − A federal agent's conduct is under investigation after a video of his aggressive handling of a bomb-sniffing dog at the Detroit Metro Airport circulated on social media Sunday.

In the video, originally shared on Reddit but no longer available on the platform, the Transportation Security Administration agent appears to be training the dog in the airport's McNamara Terminal. The agent is seen roughly pulling at the dog's leash, at times yanking hard enough that the dog's front paws are lifted from the floor.

The video was shared with local TSA leadership and the employee in question has been removed from his duties until the investigation is complete, according to a statement from the agency. The dog was sent to a veterinarian for a wellness exam and was found to be in good health.

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The dog is an explosive detection canine, according to the agency.

"The behavior displayed by this handler is unacceptable and not within the high standards we hold our officers to," the statement reads.

The Reddit user who filmed the rough handling, ProfessionalEye3568, said in the post that it was captured from the airport's Delta Sky Club and, at first, the poster thought the dog was just a high-energy pup, but soon concluded the handler's treatment was unnecessarily harsh.

"I was shocked at how this airport handler is dragging this poor pup around," the post reads. "I have a high-energy dog so at first I assumed it was a mistake or that the puppy was a bit over energetic but looks like the handler is just being unnecessarily rough with it."

Contact Miriam Marini: mmarini@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Video of TSA dog handler at Detroit Metro Airport investigated