I think Spiff hit it on the head. The checked bag screener on the elite side (west side of the checkin area) usually just swabs the checked bags and sends them on their way.
I would have been tempted to politely tell the guy to shove my checked bag. What next? "Hey, this bag has to be taken to T-1 for screening." WTH?
Screen the bag, screener!
If you want to schlep it over to another part of the terminal to screen it, then have at it!