Pregnant woman says man punched her and service dog at airport
A deaf woman, who is five months pregnant, claims a man punched her in the stomach and hit her service dog during a confrontation on an plane.
Hazel Ramirez said she and her partner Matthew Silvay, who are both deaf, were confronted last Thursday by another passenger, Timothy Manley, who objected to their service dog.
Mobile phone footage shows how an argument escalated in the aisle of the aircraft, and spilled into the gangway and terminal of the Orlando International Airport in Florida, US.
The video also shows Mr Silvay, the pregnant woman’s partner, blocking the walkway, appearing to be waiting for Mr Manley.
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A police report states the passenger punched the great dane Zariel, upsetting Ms Ramirez and Mr Silvay, who yelled at him.
The woman, who is 20 weeks pregnant, said she was punched during a subsequent physical confrontation with Mr Manley, who she claimed also hit her pet “with a closed fist”.
According to the police report, the contact caused Zariel to yelp and retreat under a seat.
However Mr Manley denied hitting the canine, instead describing his contact with the service dog as a “swat”.
He said the dog triggered his wife’s allergies as the flight from Colorado Springs to Orlando was making its descent.
“I pushed her away,” he told ABC News in Florida.
“I wouldn’t call it a punch.”
Officers took statements and referred the case to the FBI. Mr Ramirez says she plans to press charges.
