The Republic you save may be your own.
Posted on 05/28/2012 12:50:16 PM PDT by ken in texas
UNIVERSITY PARK — Police were closely monitoring a man who commandeered the cab of a construction crane hundreds of feet above the SMU campus at noon Monday.
The man was said to have threatened police officers. Police said he is believed to be armed with a pistol, although no weapon was visible from HD Chopper 8 in the sky nearby, and the crane itself has not appeared to move.
Dallas police sources told News 8 they believe the man in the crane stole a box truck using a sharp object around 2:30 a.m. Monday. The suspect was chased by his victims, hitting several other vehicles in making his getaway.
The truck was recovered on Ownby Drive on the SMU campus; from there, the carjacker apparently decided to climb to the top of the towering crane nearby at the site of a new university dormitory facility just east of the football stadium.
A police canine unit led officers to the crane, sources said.
News 8 sources say a Dallas police helicopter with a sniper on board was headed to the scene as a precaution.
Dallas police also sent a heavily-armed SWAT team and additional units at the request of SMU police.
Shortly before noon, the man was seen throwing something out of the crane's control cab. There has been no direct communication with the suspect, although police have been shouting instructions to him from the ground.
Mockingbird Lane and Airline Drive were closed to traffic, although there was no evidence of evacuations in progress at the adjacent shopping center at Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway.
An armored personnel carrier was at the scene, and trained negotiators of the Dallas police tactical unit were expected to try and make contact with the man in the crane to talk him down safely.
This has been going since late this morning. We recently heard a report that many Dallas officers were pulled off the scene to respond to another "major disturbance". No word on that yet.
he's more of a danger to himself and the crane than to anyone/thing else, I'd guess.
From what I hear on local radio he is just up there yelling at authorities.
Suspect is a black male. Stole vehicle, crashed it, then climbed the crane.
Not too bright.
Sounds heavy
Maybe they need more tanks and a Specter gunship to circle above.
Still, it's a lousy day for the people that have been evacuated. Plus, President Bush lives nearby, so there are probably restrictions on flight ops for observation.
Kill power to the crane, starve the sofab!tch out.
So far we have numerous police vehicles, an armored personnel carier, a heavily armed SWAT team, and a police helicopter on the scene.
A $1 .308 round would save a heck of a lot taxpayer dollars.
They don't need a SWAT team. Irritable holiday travelers will probably kill him.
shoot em
I agree. He might kill someone. His time ought to be up.
According to the radio reports, he claims to have a gun and shoot anyone that comes close.
He tried to operate the crane, but they cut power to it. It is hot, full sun, about 95 degrees in the shade.
He is up in the cab of the crane with no air conditioning and they are trying to wait him out.
The crane is actually on the property of Southern Methodist University, close to the George Bush Library.
He looks just like Obama’s son.
Post of the Day
“He looks just like Obama’s son.”
^5
“He looks just like Obama’s son.”
Which one?
So the moron sits up there with a pistol. Can’t someone just break out the deer rifle and put a round in his butt?
Of course, if he has Skittles in his pockets he might become a Dallas version of Trayvon.
“” LIVE VIDEO: BREATHTAKING SUSPENSE ***
HE’S ABOUT TO JUMP!!!!
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/category/234333/live
What the cops need is a loud speaker and one of the klaxon horns from a submarine. When the guy sticks his head out they can sound the horn a couple of times with the appropropriate verbal command.
Is he doing it for Trayvon?
SWAT is still on the scene. Helicopters are hovering. Residents are pissed.
This has been going on since 11:30 AM.
Evidently the perp broke into the secure area around the crane and then verbally threatened SMU police saying he had a gun and would shoot.
The crane is there to build some housing units on campus.
They are reporting now that the perp is getting sick and vomiting.
Just wait, Arnold will show up in a Marine Corp Harrier Jet and save the day.
Good thing he doesn't have a dog or they'd have already opened fire.
>> “surely he can’t figure out how to run the thing” <<
.
You can bet that his juice has been cut at the box.
.
Why would the government spend a $1.00 if it can spend $10,000 instead? They have to justify their budgets some way.
>> “He’s been up there for more than 6 hours without fluids. He will not be conscious for very longer.” <<
.
Wouldn’t you just love to have the job of getting his vomit soaked corpse out of that hot box!
.
“They are reporting now that the perp is getting sick and vomiting.”
Boy oh boy is that crane operator going to be pissed or what!!
Pretty tough to run one of those things when they can turn off the power from the ground.
Post of the thread right there.
I wouldn't shoot at him, wouldn't be prudent in such a heavily populated area. I'd refuse him any refreshments and then just before dawn tomorrow morning I'd creep a couple of SWAT guys up there with flashbangs and CS. Then I'd put some chains on the door and let him sit another Texas summer day up there. Maybe let him out tomorrow night, if the durn fool don't jump before then.
Have nice day.
hot day...no water, no food...no potty ..... Call me Wednesday when the fellow either falls, jumps, or gives up...
Perp is suspected of stealing a box van at knifepoint and hitting vehicles like a pinball machine while he was driving away. People in one black van hit were taken to the hospital in ambulances.
The box van was filled with band equipment and parked outside a downtown Dallas nightclub when it was hijacked.
It was later found abandoned near the SMU campus.
Going on 12 hours now and he is still up there.
He has cut off communication with the police and thrown several items out of the crane cab. The news reports items thrown include his shirt, shoes, and several items that were in the crane cab.
Having high winds and lightning in Dallas right now. Maybe a lightning bolt will end this.
Snipers Wanted
“from what I saw on our live camera, it looked like officers were climbing inside the crane.
When the suspect saw them, it looked like he began crawling outside the cab, dangled for a few seconds, and fell.
Still waiting for official word from Dallas police.”
Just saw a report about that on the morning news. At least it’s over now.
Yep, he fell to his death.
No word on the innocent victims he put in the hospital.
It’s business as usual today at SMU.
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