TAMPA, Fla. – Security officers made a “surprise discovery” at Tampa International Airport when they uncovered a deadly weapon hidden in an unusual place, according to TSA officials earlier this month.
In a release, the agency said that the item — a hidden knife inside of a baseball bat-shaped flashlight — was found during a routine screening in a passenger’s carry-on bag at a TSA checkpoint.
Per the agency, TSA officer Andrew Carter noticed that the flashlight looked unusual on the X-ray screen and sent the bag for additional inspection.
Supervisory TSA Officer Michael Slaughter searched the bag and felt something hidden beneath its lining, the release notes. Inside, he found a toiletry kit and the small flashlight. When he twisted the flashlight’s handle, it came apart and revealed a 4-inch, double-edged knife built into the handle.
Slaughter immediately contacted other TSA supervisors, airport management and Tampa Airport Police…