It’s bad enough when your run-of-the-mill bad consumer takes advantage of public situations and films what shouldn’t be filmed, but it feels even ickier when someone whose job it is to protect people does it. An air marshal arrested yesterday admits that he took cell phone pics up women’s dresses and/or skirts while they boarded a Southwest Airlines flight in Nashville.

The Transportation Security Administration confirmed the arrest of the 28-year-old marshal, who was snagged while he was on duty after a witness grabbed his cell phone and told a flight attendant, reports the Baltimore Sun.

A criminal affidavit says the marshal “admitted to taking pictures underneath female’s dresses and or skirts,” and he was charged with disorderly conduct.

To add insult to injury, the flight was delayed as a result of the marshal’s alleged shenanigans and subsequent arrest.

A Southwest spokesman confirmed that the crew had removed a passenger from the flight before heading to Tampa.

“We turned the matter over to local law enforcement, and the passenger did not travel as scheduled,” he said.

A Federal Air Marshal service spokesman says that the “TSA does not tolerate criminal behavior” and took immediate action after the arrest.

“The agency immediately removed this individual from his current duties and is in the process of suspending or terminating his employment,” he said. “TSA continues to assist with the investigation.”

While marshals are trained to blend in with passengers, we’re not sure acting like a common creepster would qualify as a means to achieve that end.

Also, thanks for resigning me to a pants-filled future for every single flight I ever take from now on, guy.

Baltimore-based air marshal arrested, admits to taking pictures up women’s dresses [Baltimore Sun]

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