Officers recount moments leading up to man’s arrest at Atlanta airport

He calmly walked into the Atlanta airport, watching the crowd of travelers hurrying to make their flights. Billy Joe Cagle wasn’t carrying luggage or anything else, and didn’t look rushed.

Then, two police agencies 55 miles apart worked together — fast.

By 9:54 a.m., Cagle was in two sets of handcuffs, because of his 6-foot-4, 350-pound frame, and in the custody of Atlanta police.

During the call, Cagle allegedly stated, “I’m at the airport, and I’m gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,” before he hung up, according to investigators.

By the time the leaders of the airport precinct learned about the threat, Cagle was already inside. Just outside the South terminal, at 9:29 a.m., he had parked his flatbed truck, leaving a dog inside along with an AR-15 and 27 rounds of ammunition, according to police.

Officer Myesha Banks, who has worked for the Atlanta department for three years, spotted him based on the information her supervisors had provided. She quickly alerted a fellow officer, who helped her take Cagle into custody.

“After the adrenaline went down and after everything calmed down, I realized I know why I’m a police officer,” Banks said. “I know why I’m here and I serve at the Atlanta Police Department.”

Officers from the two departments were forced to work quickly, following their constant training, to thwart violence. Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum credited Cagle’s family for sounding the alarm.

“They saved lives, and they saved a family member’s life,” he said.

Police officer Myesha Banks (left) and Sgt. Tywana Jones talk about Monday's incident at the airport. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio said deciding to report the threat was vital, but a difficult decision for anyone to make.

“People need to realize that it’s hard to turn family in,” he said. “You only want what’s best for your family member.”

The Cartersville and Atlanta agencies don’t often have the opportunity to work together, Sparacio said. But on Monday, the collaboration was nearly flawless.

While a dispatcher in Bartow reached out to Atlanta police, Sparacio called Maj. David Wilson with APD’s airport precinct, whom he had previously met.

The communication was quick. It had to be.

Jones, just months away from retiring after 30 years with APD, said she took the call from Cartersville and then talked to Cagle’s relative.

“To get that call, it made me stand up,” Jones said.

She didn’t take time to write things down, instead giving her fellow officers at the airport up-to-the-minute details about the suspect over the radio.

“My heart was beating fast,” Jones recalled. “OK, I haven’t heard any gunshots or anything going off so we’re good right now. Let’s just get that information out to prevent that from happening.”

An airport enforcement officer, who monitors the curb areas and walkways, spotted the vehicle and issued a citation at 9:36 a.m. but did not spot the gun. The officer alerted an Atlanta officer, who remained with the vehicle while the search for Cagle continued inside.

Maj. David Wilson (left) points at the screen, outlining the timeline of events from the arrival of Billy Joe Cagle at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to his arrest. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Banks said when she spotted the suspect, her extensive police training kicked in. But she admitted Tuesday that she was still scared when she approached Cagle, considering the size difference and the unknowns at play.

She was able to determine Cagle was unarmed, which allowed her to approach more comfortably and place him in handcuffs.