A photo of the late Jennifer L. Gonzalez, who was strangled to death while still wearing her target work uniform.
Posted on 05/27/2005 11:28:04 PM PDT by GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY
ATLANTA - A homicide suspect who spent 56 hours perched on an 18-story construction crane was in custody early Saturday after police climbed the structure and arrested him, authorities said.
"Apparently, he was thirsty," police spokesman Sgt. John Quigley said.
The man, identified as Carl Edward Roland, got onto the crane around 5 p.m. Wednesday and told police he was thinking of killing himself by jumping, Quigley said.
Shortly after his arrest, police were still trying to determine how to get him down. "I'm not sure if he's coming willingly or if we have to strap him to something," Quigley said.
Roland, who was on the crane without food for more than two days, will be examined by a doctor before being released to authorities in Pinellas County, Fla.
Roland is wanted by the sheriff's department there in the death of ex-girlfriend Jennifer L. Gonzalez, 36, whose body found Tuesday. An arrest warrant affidavit accuses Roland of strangling Gonzalez and dumping her body in a pond behind the apartment complex where she lived.
Two days earlier, Roland told acquaintances he believed Gonzalez was cheating on him and asked them if they could get him a firearm so he could kill her, according to the affidavit.
Since March, the 41-year-old Clearwater, Fla., man had quit his job as a software salesman and filed for bankruptcy. Roland said he owed $10,500 in federal taxes and more than $13,000 on credit cards, court records show.
The standoff was high above Atlanta's busy Buckhead neighborhood, an area filled with clubs and restaurants. Lunch and dinner crowds, taking advantage of summer-like weather, have packed restaurant patios with clear views of the standoff.
Authorities closed some streets under the crane, including Peachtree Road, one of the city's main thoroughfares. The closure led to traffic delays throughout the area.
Vernard Swindle, 29, laid off from his job stocking groceries, took a bus from his home three miles away Friday to see what was going on.
"I'm wondering what's going on in his head to stay up there more than 36 hours with no food or water," Swindle said.
A photo of the late Jennifer L. Gonzalez, who was strangled to death while still wearing her target work uniform.
I heard about this just a bit ago on the radio. They tasered him to get him down from his perch.
Did the bird have any comment? (oh)
Good to see Vernard is keeping busy.
What - he was into 23,500 dollars? At what, 50 years old?
Telling him to jump (even if the right thing to do), would have resulted in a ten million dollar lawsuit for ---whatever...
LOL
Not the brightest bulb.
Tell them to get stuffed. Refuse to pay any judgement. If Federal troops seize the city government, repeal the city tax ordinances, refund all city assets to the taxpayers, and go into hiding as the legal and proper government of the city.
Come on guy, I know all about that lawsuit stuff. Politicians really don't care as long as they have the taxpayer to pay for the judgement.
Humor, lad. Sardonic humor.
No, a proper police force would have just shot him off the crane.
Or lowered the boom on him.
"Apparently, he was thirsty," police spokesman Sgt. John Quigley said.....apparently he was an idiot.
I've lived in Atlanta for 14 years and this guy spent more time in Buckhead than I have since I moved here. LOL!
I wonder if he'll be wearing shackles for his courtroom appearance.
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