EXCLUSIVE: Radio Listener Says He Tipped Off Cops to Sniper Suspects

WLW radio ^ | October 24 2002

[runningbear]

audio link

EXCLUSIVE: Radio Listener Says He Tipped Off Cops to Sniper Suspects

Audio: Check out the interview with the man who says he tipped off police - click to listen!

A phone call from a "Truckin' Bozo" listener on Cincinnati station WLW helped lead to the arrest of the Beltway Sniper suspects.

Late Wednesday night, the police issued an all points bulletin for suspects John Allen Muhammad and his stepson, John Lee Malvo.

Overnight talk host "Truckin' Bozo" Dale Sommers alerted listeners of 700WLW and the Truckin' Bozo Radio Network early Thursday morning that the police were searching for a blue 1990 Chevrolet Caprice with New Jersey license plates.

Minutes before 1:00AM, a Kentucky truck driver listening to the Truckin' Bozo broadcast called the police after seeing a vehicle that fit the description parked in a Maryland rest area.

The driver, Ron Lantz, had pulled into the rest area to take a nap.

According to Lantz, the police asked him to use his truck to block the exit from the rest area.

John Allen Muhammad, 42, and stepson John Lee Malvo, 17 were arrested soon after.

Photo copyright Mario Tama/Getty Images

[wideawake]

And apparently that evil white man who found the murderers is one of those reactionary, right-wing born-again Christian types.

[TommyDale]

It tood the police 15 minutes to arrive, surround and take the men into custody. The "official arrest" was made at approximately 3 a.m., probably after running all the names, identification, license numbers, etc., then reading them their Miranda rights took place at the 3 a.m. time. Police don't just run in and arrest people instantly, unless a crime in in progress.

[leadpenny]

I think it was 15 minutes but I read or heard somewhere this morning that they cleared the Rest Areas on both sides of the Interstate, had infrared cameras overhead and staked out the surrounding woods before they pounced on the sleeping scum.

[Tuco-bad]

Wouldn't that put him a dangerous situation?

Thinking the same thought.

[toddst]

Bush should personally visit this Hero at his some, or invite him to the White House, with gratitude and make sure his family is well cared for from now on.

10-4 on recognize. Mr. Lantz put himself at great risk by blocking the exit. However, in that this man is from Kentucky (as am I) there's no doubt in my mind Mr. Lantz was fully prepared to "repel boarders." Every trucker from "round these parts" has a sense of self-preservation, the right mind-set AND "equipment." required.

Great job, Mr. Lantz!

[leadpenny]

That's what makes him a hero . . . not because he called in the tip.

[leadpenny]

Every trucker from "round these parts" has a sense of self-preservation, the right mind-set AND "equipment." required.

I'm not a truker but was thinking the same thing. No way I would drive around this country in a big rig without "equipment."

[blam]

Notice how 'flannel shirted' Ron Lantz fit the profile of the perp released by the police.

[FR_addict]

Notice how 'flannel shirted' Ron Lantz fit the profile of the perp released by the police.

Good Point. Maybe if they would stop listening to the profilers on the anthrax case, they would find the people responsible.

[Talldocs1]

"According to Lantz, the police asked him to use his truck to block the exit from the rest area.

I wonder why it took the police almost 2 hours to arrive and make the arrest."


Not only, I wonder why a sniper guy trained to survive in the wilderness was peacefully sleeping at a highway truck stop.

[Reactionary]

I heard him on WLW 700 and he said that it took the cops 10 minutes to get on the scene after he called 911.

The trucker is from Ludlow, Kentucky.

[homeschool mama]

**I wonder why it took the police almost 2 hours to arrive and make the arrest. **

I thought it was 10 minutes.

[DentsRun]

but a local priest (I'm in Richmond) said he apparently got a call from the sniper on Friday night. He said the call was garbled and he couldn't understand everything. He dismissed it as a crank call and didn't realize until police contacted him on Sunday a.m. that it was the sniper.

How did the police know to contact the priest?

[Corin Stormhands]

The LEOs traced the call. Somehow they knew the sniper had placed a call to the rectory.