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(Atlanta) Police missed early chance (to get Nichols; Keystone Kops strike again)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 3.15.05 | BILL TORPY, STACY SHELTON

Posted on 03/15/2005 8:03:13 AM PST by mhking

Police apparently missed an opportunity to trap Brian G. Nichols in a downtown parking garage just minutes after Friday's courthouse shooting spree — the first of several lost chances to catch him that day.

Two attendants at Five Points Garage said they heard a sport utility vehicle driven by Nichols smash through the gate and screech into the garage. Atlanta police units were just seconds behind.

The attendants said they twice tried to show officers how to block the only exits from the garage at Wall and Peachtree streets, three blocks from the Fulton County Courthouse. Instead, a motorcycle officer and two squad cars sped into the structure after Nichols, leaving no one to watch for him at street level.

Seconds later, Nichols calmly walked down a stairwell and out of the garage with two handguns tucked in his pants, the attendants said Monday. "He kept looking back to the steps," said attendant Frank Holston. A second attendant confirmed the story but would not give his name.

Police asked, " 'Which way did he go?' " Holston recalled.

"I told them this is the only way he can get out, down here, but they didn't listen. They could have gotten him here, but they didn't. All of them went up behind him."

Atlanta police spokesman John Quigley said he was unaware of the exchange but said the department would review its actions at the garage.

The attendants said they had not been questioned by police as of Monday.

Police were chasing Nichols, who was being tried on rape charges, after Friday morning's shooting spree that left a judge, a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy dead. As he escaped from Five Points Garage, Nichols allegedly hijacked a tow truck on Peachtree Street. Within minutes, he allegedly carjacked at least two more vehicles, pistol-whipping one car's owner. More than 12 hours later, authorities say, he pistol-whipped another man and shot to death a federal agent.

Busy hunting for green car

The day was marked by a series of close calls and missed opportunities for police in their desperate search for a dangerous suspect.

Authorities were thrown off the trail for most of the day when they started looking for a green Honda Accord that was stolen from an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter. More than 12 hours later, police learned the car had never left the parking garage across from CNN Center.

Nichols then most likely boarded MARTA at the CNN Center transit station, police said. He probably traveled one stop east to the Five Points station and then took the North Line to the Lenox station, police said.

As Nichols apparently was catching the train, MARTA police were being pulled from the Five Points station to respond to the emergency at the courthouse, transit police said.

Two hours later, at 11:31 a.m., Atlanta and MARTA police received a report that a man matching Nichols' description — wearing a blue blazer and no shirt — was walking near Lenox Squaremall, said MARTA Police Chief Gene Wilson. Police canvassed the area without success.

Wilson, whose transit police were assisting Atlanta police, now believes it was Nichols near the mall. "With the information we have now it looks like a damn good lead," Wilson said.

But police did not dwell on the Lenox area. "Again, we're thinking he's in a car miles away."

Nearly 11 hours later, shortly after 10 p.m., Nichols allegedly held a woman at gunpoint and pistol-whipped her boyfriend at a Lenox Road apartment one block south of the mall. Police responded and a report says the couple and a third person believed the attacker was Nichols but were not sure.

Quigley said several more Atlanta police and federal agents converged on the scene and remained until about midnight.

The next morning, the body of federal customs agent David Wilhelm was found shot to death in a home he owned. It was a block away from the Lenox Road apartment. Wilhelm's pickup truck was stolen and driven to Gwinnett County, where Nichols allegedly held hostage a woman at about 2 a.m. He surrendered the next morning in her apartment.

Who was in charge?

It is still unclear which law enforcement agency was in charge of the manhunt. Quigley said Atlanta police "were the lead agency in investigating the homicide," but he stopped short of saying the department was coordinating the search for Nichols.

Quigley acknowledged that the manhunt was led astray by the assumption that Nichols had fled in a green Honda. "Obviously, we were duped," he said.

The Honda was found more than 12 hours later on a lower level of the garage. Police then looked at security videotape to discover Nichols had walked out — wearing a stolen blue blazer.

Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington has said that police "were not thorough" in canvassing the garage where the Honda was parked. The department was chasing reports of carjackings, which stopped at the garage.

"No one else reported a car taken — he was taking cars," Quigley said. They didn't think to look for him on foot. "Once you look through a different prism you see other things," Quigley said. "You broaden your spectrum and are open to other alternatives.

"At the same time, we're getting hundreds and hundreds of tips and we're chasing them."

He said Pennington has said "he will go back and review how things transpired. You can always improve things."

— Staff writer Saeed Ahmed contributed to this article.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: briannichols
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To: mhking; Jemima Gaines
Good grief! What a stupid rant and post that was.

Fortunately, Jemima Gaines has rode the lightning now!

ZOT!!!

Bye, Jemima Gaines.

"She's dead, Jim!"


81 posted on 03/16/2005 8:30:51 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: general_re; Darksheare; hellinahandcart; mhking
Doesn't hurt to take a broom to the gutter once in a while.

Well done, FRiends!

82 posted on 03/16/2005 11:45:45 AM PST by Robert Drobot (Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.)
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To: Jemima Gaines; mhking

#61- Worst. Post. Ever.


83 posted on 03/16/2005 11:48:22 AM PST by over3Owithabrain
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To: Robert Drobot

Wish I could take a little credit here, but wasn't me this time!
*chuckle*


84 posted on 03/16/2005 11:52:41 AM PST by Darksheare (I need to keep painting my wall red or the thing living in it will get out and get us all.)
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To: mhking
Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington has said that police "were not thorough" in canvassing the garage where the Honda was parked.

Retard Pennington didn't have any problems with flying to Washington to personally testify (like he'd know anything) to keep the federal "assault weapons ban" I guess he heard his Democratic masters' voices on that. Unfortunately, they can't instruct him on how to actually do his job.

85 posted on 03/16/2005 11:56:17 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
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To: mhking
I'm reminded of the time we had a local bank robbery. I was driving down the road and was nearly run over by a guy in a tan Suburban with flat tires all around. He rounded a turn and was out of sight when my rear-view mirror filled up with flashing lights. I pulled over to let them by and continued on my way. A few seconds later a few more police cars came from up ahead of me and passed by going the opposite way. As I approached an intersection, I had to slow down because of the police cars coming from multiple directions.

As I slowed down, I noticed fresh gouge marks in the road turning to the right so out of curiosity I made the turn and started down that road. Noticing some chunks of rubber along the sides of the road, I continued on. At the entrance to a neighborhood, I noticed more gouge marks and followed them into a neighborhood where the terrain was pretty hilly. The house on the left were sitting at an elevation much higher and the houses on the right were sitting down below the road. I had to pull over again as two more police cars came up behind me and continued on, moments later, they had turned around and passed me again.

I continued down about 3 more driveways and noticed more fresh gouge marks in the street again turning into a driveway on the right (lower houses) so I slowed down and craned my neck to look down the driveway. There, just beyond the garage under a carport off to the side of the property sat a tan Suburban with what was left of the shredded tires.

I continued on and looked for the next police officer to come barreling down the road. As a County Sheriff approached at a high rate of speed, I flashed my lights and waved my hand for him to stop. We were about 5 or 6 house up the street so I told him that if he was looking for a tan Suburban with no tires, it was parked behind a house right down the street. In minutes, the house was surrounded and they arrested this young guy that was in the house. (he left many clues including the fact that he was still breathing pretty heavy despite telling the police he had just awakened and was taking a shower)

Long story short, this one officer was a little suspicious of how I knew what they were looking for and where to find it. I laughed and told him that the guy nearly ran me off the road and after seeing the police running around like chickens with their heads cut off, it was the least I could do to help out by following the all-to-obvious trail the perp left.

Come to think of it, not even a 'thanks'. Idiots...

86 posted on 03/16/2005 12:21:50 PM PST by Hatteras
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To: Robert Drobot; general_re; mhking

Wasn't me. I didn't do nuttin' except stare at that post in shock, with my mouth wide open. =:o


87 posted on 03/16/2005 12:48:35 PM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: Americanwolf; AQGeiger; Beaker; BenLurkin; baltodog; BJClinton; big'ol_freeper; Borax Queen; ...

Dangit, ah done missed anuther 'un!
88 posted on 03/16/2005 4:47:16 PM PST by Old Sarge (In for a penny, in for a pound, saddlin' up and Baghdad-bound!)
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To: Old Sarge

Its getting harder and harder to get in the first zotwave.


89 posted on 03/16/2005 4:56:16 PM PST by big'ol_freeper (World Series Champion Boston Red Sox!! Has a nice ring to it.)
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To: Jemima Gaines
Can't read very well can you?

please remember to use common courtesy when posting and refrain from posting personal attacks,

Bye bye.

90 posted on 03/16/2005 4:58:16 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (If I were a better person, I'd ignore her and go on with my life. But I'm not.)
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To: Old Sarge; mhking

you didn't miss much: I suspect it was Jihad Cyndi on some kind of ovulatory flirtation spree.


91 posted on 03/16/2005 5:05:31 PM PST by King Prout (Remember John Adam!)
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To: King Prout; mhking

I've heard of that kind of thing: lovehate, as it were.

MH, you shouldl be, well, flattered... I think....


92 posted on 03/16/2005 5:29:58 PM PST by Old Sarge (In for a penny, in for a pound, saddlin' up and Baghdad-bound!)
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To: Old Sarge; mhking

horrified, alarmed, and seeking a restraining order is more like it.


93 posted on 03/16/2005 5:34:31 PM PST by King Prout (Remember John Adam!)
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