TSA agent accused of stealing at Columbia Regional Airport

A TSA agent was caught stealing a bag full of money designed to test employees’ integrity, said Columbia police.

As it turns out, the TSA, under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was running an “honesty check” at Columbia Regional Airport on Thursday. Eric Dunlap, 42, failed the test, said Sgt. Joe Bernhard of Columbia Police.

Instead of turning the bag in to lost-and-found, Dunlap is accused of opening a small black bag filled with a large amount of money, according to police, and stuffing it into his coat pocket.

Dunlap was being watched and was detained by airport security after he clocked out and tried to leave the terminal Thursday morning. Police were dispatched to the airport at 6:54 a.m.

The TSA issued a press release Friday afternoon stating that this is an ongoing investigation, and noted that TSA employees are not employed by the city of Columbia.

As of Friday evening, no charges have been filed against Dunlap, but the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did confirm they have received police reports on Dunlap’s arrest and that they have until May 21 to file charges, if any.

A phone call to the TSA to inquire about the status of Dunlap’s employment history Friday was not returned immediately.

According to Bernhard, Columbia police have not responded to similar incidents at the airport in recent years.