CLEVELAND — The Cleveland man accused of stealing a car and driving into a restricted area at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Thanksgiving Eve has been indicted on several counts by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to a release sent on Friday, 26-year-old Isaac Woolley was charged with one count of entering aircraft or an airport area in violation of security requirements, one count of violence at international airports, two counts of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities, and two counts of carjacking.
The incident on Nov. 23 began just after 7:15 p.m., when officials say Woolley illegally entered a secure area of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Grayton Road and caused damage to the main CLE radar antenna tower. Court documents state that the primary radar system utilized by the FAA to monitor civilian and commercial air traffic for Hopkins Airport was inoperable for a period of time.
Just after 8:15 p.m., Fairview Park police received reports that a vehicle had been stolen at the Orbit Hotel on Brookpark Road. The vehicle's owner had been looking for a lost pet when she got out and left it running, then Woolley allegedly jumped in the vehicle and drove away. The woman sustained minor injuries after she was knocked to the ground, according to police.
At approximately 9 p.m., Woolley allegedly drove through an airfield gate at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and made it onto a runway. He eventually abandoned his vehicle on the airfield after damaging runway lighting. Airport operations were shut down for approximately 30 minutes, including several flights bound for Cleveland temporarily diverted to nearby airports.
Brook Park police released body camera footage of the incident that started with police locating Woolley as he was walking on Aerospace Parkway. Woolley told officers that he was trying to get to his son and daughter down in Athens, Alabama. "I'll do whatever it takes to get down there to see my son and daughter," he told police.
Officers noticed that Woolley had blood on his hands. "I was being a little stupid and rowdy," the 26-year-old Woolley replied, adding that he was looking for attention.
Police then placed Woolley under arrest. When Woolley seemed unclear as to why he was being taken into custody, one of the officers exclaimed, "You stole a car! You stole a car and crashed it through the freaking airport gates, dude."
Woolley also told arresting officers that he had once been a sheriff's deputy.