Routine Traffic Stop Leads to 8-Hour Standoff, Shooting of 69-Year-Old Driver

TBO.com ^ | 3/26/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What started as a routine traffic stop escalated into an eight-hour standoff and a shootout with sheriff's deputies that left the 69-year-old driver dead, officials said.

Vincent Zirakian, who had a history of mental illness, died Monday, apparently from shots fired by the deputies, said Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.

Zirakian was driving 20 mph under the speed limit early Monday when deputies tried to pull him over. He stopped the car briefly, but took off again, authorities said. Another deputy tracked him to his home in Deltona, about 20 miles north of Orlando.

During the standoff that followed, Zirakian could be seen holding a shotgun inside the home, according to sheriff's reports. Outside, deputies, a SWAT team and Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk tried to talk him into surrendering.

When deputies eventually fired tear gas into the house, Zirakian fired at them, and the deputies fired back. Zirakian was found dead.

"Nothing worked," Johnson said. "The man was not wanting this to come to a peaceful conclusion. He put our men in a position where we had to fire."

[TheDon]

When deputies eventually fired tear gas into the house, Zirakian fired at them, and the deputies fired back. Zirakian was found dead.

"Nothing worked," Johnson said. "The man was not wanting this to come to a peaceful conclusion. He put our men in a position where we had to fire."

Hmmm....is it just me, or do these two statements contradict each other?

[goldylight]

all because he was driving 20 MPH under the speed limit......sad......

[paddles]

"Nothing worked."

Gee, I guess the tear gas was defective.

[Arkie2]

Don't you know that's a terrorist indicator, that and the fact he was 69 and went to his home. There can be no leeway in the war on terror. /sarcasm off>

[EBUCK]

I doubt that this guy even knew what tear gas was. He prolly thought it was mustard gas.

EBUCK

[goldylight]

Thats pretty $%@#*& up.....

[uncbob]

Yeah 8 hours is plenty of time to wait on a desperate criminal driving 20 MPH under the limit

[FreePaul]

"Nothing worked," Johnson said.

What do you mean "nothing worked", Sheriff? You got to kill him didn't you?

[who knows what evil?]

"Nothing worked," Johnson said. "The man was not wanting this to come to a peaceful conclusion. He put our men in a position where we had to fire."

Another hard day on the job...finally, it's "Miller time".

[coloradan]

"He put our men in a position where we had to fire."

Department policy put their men into a position that put him into a position, that put them into a position where they had to fire. If you didn't pull this guy over - for driving UNDER the speed limit, this wouldn't have happened. But by doing so, and tear-gassing the man, you did indeed provoke a fight, and you got one.

What kind of profession is it, where one can provoke people to violence, and then kill them for committing it, as part of your job description?

[razorback-bert]

bump

[Poohbah]

Gee, maybe if this a**hole had OBEYED THE LAW (you know, Chris Rock's first step in his "How Not to Get Your A** Kicked by the Police" video), and not OBSTRUCTED TRAFFIC, or had just taken his ticket and dealt with it, and driven somewhat faster afterwards, instead of just taking off again...

You're saying the cops would've felt cheated.

[Travis McGee]

Ping.

[Poohbah]

As long as we let mentally ill people run around loose, it'll keep happening. Thank you, liberals...

[PLMerite]

I'd have to see how their law reads vis-a-vis obstructing traffic, but I am kind of curious as to what speed the cops want us to drive.

I got pulled over on the Balt-Wash Parkway many many years ago for doing 40mph on a 55mph road. It was about 2230 and there was no one on the road but me and the cop. Never did figure out what he wanted. No ticket, just checked my license and registration and sent me on my way. I didn't fit any profiles (like DWB or long-haired hippy), either.

[Poohbah]

He was probably checking to see if you were intoxicated--drunk drivers tend to drive S-L-O-W-L-Y.