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

[runningbear]

I hope this wasn't already posted... and your able to listen to the trucker who called in to authorities location of the snipers.

[runningbear]

I forgot to mention... this audio clip is about 6 mins in length..

[ThinkingMan]

Saw this guy interviewed on fox- a good American doing his job. Said he didn't want anyone calling him a hero, and if he was paid the reward ($500,000) he would donate it to the families of the victims. These are the type of people that make America the best country in the world.

[runningbear]

I heard some parts of a CNN interview. Yep, and he needs to be thanked..Good man.

[McGruff]

See this thread for more info:

The Newest Hero of "The War on Terrorism"

[Corin Stormhands]

I didn't catch all the details (and maybe they're on FR somewhere), 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.

[runningbear]

I think in reviewing the 168 pics on yahoo news, I saw that pic of the priest. Lots of pics on Yahoo.com\news photos

[leadpenny]

and this:

‘AW, SHUCKS' TRUCKER A MODEST HERO

[OReilly]

This guy broke the whole NBC studio up (Biggest On-Air Laugh-In I've ever Heard). As the interview was ending, Katie Couric said, Well, where are you heading now? Oh, I got to go over to Channel 9 (CBS). Gees, you didn't have to say that, I meant which city, Katie said. (rolling laughter)

[Tuco-bad]

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.

[Fulbright]

What is scary about the background of the perps is that you meet this type every day. How many of them are loose cannons?

[leadpenny]

The reports I have seen say that it took 15 minutes for the police to get in position after Mr. Lantz made the call.

[Tuco-bad]

The reports I have seen say that it took 15 minutes for the police to get in position after Mr. Lantz made the call.

Maybe so, but I read the call was made to the police at 1:00 am, and the police arrived and made the arrests at around 3:00 am.

Using my slide rule, that works out to 2 hours.

[runningbear]

reviewing lots of news right now, many different accounts.. pending....

[billbears]

bump

[TamiPie]

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...

[Lauratealeaf]

It is funny that the police and media were "profiling" the sniper to be an angry white right-wing man throughout these past three weeks and all along some probably knew that was a lie. It took a good ole white man to find the stinking culprits.

[TamiPie]

I mean, "at his HOME"...

[marktwain]

This is an excellent idea. Only I would ask Bush to invite the man and his family to the White House, and hold him up as an example to all Americans on how we can fight the war on terror. This should be done before the election!

[RipSawyer]

The reports I have seen say that it took 15 minutes for the police to get in position after Mr. Lantz made the call.

Maybe so, but I read the call was made to the police at 1:00 am, and the police arrived and made the arrests at around 3:00 am.

Using my slide rule, that works out to 2 hours.


Hate to say it but it probably took them a long time to gather all the backup they wanted while at the same time asking the trucker to block the exit with his truck. Wouldn't that put him a dangerous situation?