Controversial Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos later criticized Transportation Security Administration agent He was allegedly stopped at an airport security checkpoint after a loaded and undeclared firearm was found in his carry-on luggage.
A recent independent investigation into allegations of bullying and retaliation by the chief found “substantial evidence” that he abused his position for political advantage in the 2024 election against former PCSD Lieutenant Heather Lappin, Fox News reported.
Cory Stephens, a long-time Tucson resident and president of the American Conservative Union, expressed her concerns to the County Board of Supervisors at a public meeting on November 12, 2024, saying that the Sheriff was not being affected in the same way as ordinary citizens during this hotly contested election.
Corey Stephens says: ‘The safety of our community is at stake’
In a phone interview with Fox News Digital on Friday, Stephens “If an ordinary citizen encountered this situation at the airport, the consequences would be more serious.”
Blast Nano, she said, “We as citizens want answers. The safety of our communities is at stake.”
Stephens said that as a law enforcement officer, he should be familiar with TSA regulations, including procedures for declaring weapons, securing weapons and adhering to the same guidelines as all other individuals.
Nanos under investigation at airport
An incident report dated November 6, 2024, obtained by Fox News Digital, states that a TSA X-ray technician observed a weapon in a sergeant’s bag and alerted an officer.
Airport authorities found five rounds of ammunition in the magazine and another bullet inside the magazine.
The deputy missed his flight, put the gun in his car and left.
Former FBI agent and Fox News contributor James Galliano expressed surprise at the entire incident, noting that as a law enforcement officer, the Sheriff had the ability to take steps to legally transport it while flying.
Nanos was reportedly taken to a private screening room where he asked the deputy about the location of the gun in his bag.
The gun was in a zippered pocket, and the officer removed the gun from the pocket and found five rounds of ammunition in the magazine, Nanos said.
Two months later, the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance remains unresolved. She was allegedly abducted from her Tucson residence at night. No suspects have been released to the public at this time.
