Alleged abductor had airport access

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Konrad Spiegel, accused of trying to abduct a woman from a bar, worked for Northwest Airlines and had a card and keys that allowed him access to virtually any area of the Gerald R Ford International Airport.

Airport Communications Manager Bruce Schedlbauer told 24 Hour News 8 the airport now has now gotten his security card and keys back.

Spiegel, 40, had a felony conviction for cocaine possession in 1997 and a misdemeanor marijuana conviction in 1988.

Still he was able to get a job at the airport where security is emphasized. Airport officials wouldn't immediately say how he was able to get that security clearance despite his felony arrest in 1997. They wanted to talk to the airport Operations Director before deciding how much information they want to discuss regarding security criteria.

The Operations Director was out of town.

A Northwest Airline spokesman said the airline didn't know about Spiegel's cocaine conviction because they hired him in early 1997 before it happened. They don't do background checks after someone is hired. They say if it had happened before he applied he wouldn't have gotten the job.

Spiegel is charged with trying to abduct a woman employee of the Family Tavern in Caledonia where he was known as a regular customer. He's also charged with possession of a sawed off shotgun and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

While the drug convictions probably wouldn't have suggested to a security checker that Spiegel was prone to violence, his parents told 24 hour News 8 they feared him at times. "Sometimes he's like Jekyll and Hyde," said his mother, Shirley Spiegel.