kevin922 0 #1 January 31, 2003 Here Breaking News: Chase Comes To End, SWAT Team On Scene Andrew Pulskamp, Staff Writer Posted: 11:32 a.m. EST January 31, 2003 Updated: 1:44 p.m. EST January 31, 2003 MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- Police chased a reportedly armed supsect in a postal truck through the streets of Miami-Dade and Broward counties for nearly two hours today, but that truck has stopped, and the vehicle is surrounded by police who now have a hostage situation on their hands. The truck stopped at 183rd Street and 27th Avenue (pictured) in Miami-Dade County, and SWAT teams could be seen closing in. The mail carrier was also seen moving to the back of the truck with a man after a tire blew out. "(Police are) feverishly trying to develop a plan on the ground there to bring this thing to an end," said former Miami-Dade County police spokesman and current Channel 10 News police consultant Ed Munn. Munn also said officers may evacuate a three-to-four-block area around the scene and a hostage negotiator will probably be brought in. Traffic in the area is being diverted and 48 schools have also been locked down. (Go to the bottom of this article for a list of schools affected.) Shortly after the truck stopped, Channel 10 News' helicopter left the immediate area after police directed it to leave. Police say one shot was fired from the postal vehicle during the chase, which made its way for more than an hour in a roughly circular pattern around a large area, including Miami Gardens Drive, 183rd Street, Red Road, the Palmetto Expressway and streets near Pro Player Stadium. Around 12:45 p.m., the driver broke that pattern and headed into Broward County on University Drive, neared Miramar Parkway, then turned around and drove back to Miami-Dade County. More than an hour into the chase, police became more aggressive, attempting to block the vehicle's escape at several intersections and moving closer with cars from the rear (pictured, right). The driver took evasive measures, crossing the median, making u-turns and turning in complete circles. "The police are being very careful ... to make sure this doesn't result in some sort of injury to a passerby or one of the officers," said Munn. There are at least two people in the truck. A female letter carrier was driving and someone else was apparently holding her hostage. "We may have someone inside who is armed, who is forcing (her) to drive away ... That mail carrier is obviously scared to death ... (She) probably thinks if she doesn't do what that guy tells (her), he's probably going to shoot (her,)" Munn said. "We don't know what (the suspect) has on his mind." At one point the truck stopped and the letter carrier asked another motorist, Rev. Mark Cooper, for his phone. "I rolled down my window to ask if she was alright, and she said, 'Please can I have your phone, please can I have your phone,'" said Cooper, who quickly gave his cell phone to the woman. Cooper said he didn't see a weapon in the suspect's hand and that he seemed very calm. Channel 10 News reporter Connie Hicks is in the area and saw the truck drive by several times. Hicks reports that she saw the gunman, saying he is a black male with a black knit cap. "He looks very intense, very serious," Hicks said. As for the driver, Hicks confirmed that the mail carrier is a woman and that, "She looks terrified and has her hands clenched on the steering wheel." Hicks added that it was very dark inside the vehicle and she could not see a weapon. Nearly 20 police cruisers were part of the chase, including a vehicle carrying the SWAT team. Munn said that the suspect may have been looking for a familiar place to bail out of the car. If the driver did bail out, Munn said he would still be covered from the air by the department's chopper, which is monitoring developments. The postal truck, which has been identified by it's number of 3312063, stopped numerous times, even to talk to pedestrians on nearly 10 different occassions. Each time the truck stopped, it started again, continuing to lead officers on a slow speed chase until the tire blew out. The chase affected traffic in large parts of the area in northwest Miami-Dade County as police closed down intersections to clear way for the chase. Police advised drivers to steer clear of the area and are still directing them to stay away from the scene at 183rd Street and 27th Ave. They're also urging onlookers to stay away. Small crowds of people have been seen gathered at certain street corners to watch the pursuit as it goes by. "If you're not involved in this thing, please stay out of the police's way," Munn said. Police have also said that they will release no further details about this chase until it has come to an end. Schools Locked Down Several northwest Miami-Dade County schools have been locked down. No one will be allowed in or out of the following schools: Rainbow Park Elementary Miami Gardens Elementary Wyche Elementary North Dade Middle School American High School (and all elementary and middle feeder schools) Norland High School (and all elementary and middle feeder schools) North Miami High School (and all elementary and middle feeder schools) Krop High School (and all elementary and middle feeder schools) Carol City High School (and all elementary and middle feeder schools) Munn said that children at those schools are not in any danger. Officials are just taking all possible precautions. Officials say afternoon pickup times for the above-mentioned schools could be affected. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #2 January 31, 2003 MSNBC has it on live now..... Looks like the cops have a great job so far. He's barricaded in the back of the mail truck, and still has the postal worker as a hostage, 2 1/2 hours later. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 January 31, 2003 Fark.com had it posted a while ago. I thought everyone else knew this was going on too. Huh, I guess not everyone reads Fark.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
