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Woman Seen Being Dragged Off Detroit Flight Is A U-M Assistant Professor

ANN ARBOR (WWJ/AP) -- A woman seen in a viral video being dragged off a Delta flight by authorities at Detroit Metro Airport has been identified as an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

Rhima Coleman is an assistant professor at the College of Engineering at the university, MLive reports.

A police report says Coleman was dragged off the flight after refusing to check her bag, swipe her boarding pass and leave the plane when requested to do so.

New details of the Dec. 12 incident appear in the report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press through a public records request. The 40-year-old Michigan woman was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight preparing to depart for San Diego at the airport in Romulus.

A two-minute video clip posted online shows passengers craning their necks to look back as uniformed officers drag the woman down the jet's narrow center aisle, stopping a couple of times to adjust before they continue. (Note: Video contains mild strong language).

The police report says the woman "passively resisted by falling to the floor."

As the woman, flat on her back, passes by the person with the camera, her eyes are closed and she appears unresponsive. "Oh my God," one passenger exclaims. Another passenger wonders aloud if a Taser has been used.

In unconfirmed reports posted at Airlive.net, a witness described the woman as "mouthy" with "a huge attitude," adding that she was tackled and brought to the ground by police after she "blew by the gate agent without checking in."

The video does not show this, however, beginning only when the woman is already on the floor.

The woman was arrested for disorderly conduct and failing to obey police and leave the aircraft.

She's set to be arraigned Jan. 18 at Romulus district court.

 

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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