Archive through January 31, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 January: Breaking News ... Headlines Only Please (ARCHIVE): Archive through January 31, 2003

Crossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 09:22 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Schools in the area under lockdown. Apparently, there are indications from pedestrians who have talked to those in the mail truck claim they are going to a school.

Karuuna

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 09:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Currently, truck is stopped dead in the middle of the highway and surrounded by cops with weapons aimed. All local schools are locked down.

Wink

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:01 am EditMoveDeleteIP
183 and 27th avenue is the intersection. Grooch how far is that from where you are?

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 10:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I drive through there on my way home.


I think I heard them say that the woman was supposed to be his wife driving, but she switched schedules with someone. But I am not sure.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:35 am EditMoveDeleteIP
They are checking to see if this is the same guy who shot his wife this morning (or last night) in Fort Meyers. They found his abandoned vehicle in the same area that the mail truck was hijacked in.

Wink

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
So Grooch do you think it's safe to say this guy isn't OJ?

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:45 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, that's my other theory. The white truck, the slow police chase, Sydney calling 911.

It's to early to dismiss him as a suspect.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They got the woman out safe. Now they are going in after guy.

Crossfire

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Excellent stuff.

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They better get that guy soon. Do they know they have to get that road open for you? I bet not. They pay no attention to details as evidenced by the robot dropping the note.

I like the OJ theory. Is it too soon to start a thread on that?

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am never going to get home tonight.

Now, I am hearing that it might have been a robbery attempt, since it is the end of the month and welfare and SS checks are mailed around this time.

Lizadee

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Grooch what time is it right now just out of curosity
Cause its 3:00 p.m. here in MN
What is our time difference with you ?

Wink

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well Fruit the mayor of Miami spoke to the subject of Grooch being delayed getting home. I didn't get a sense from him that he gave a flying fig newton about Grooch's dilemma. Or anyone else in the area who might be affected.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Miami Incident May Have Started As Robbery Attempt

According to police, the Miami-Dade County incident began when officers responded to reports of shots fired near 191st Street and 37th Avenue in Northwest Miami-Dade County. The gunman allegedly fired shots at police, then jumped into the mail truck and ordered the postal worker to start driving.

Police apparently received calls at around 11 a.m., Friday, from witnesses reporting seeing a black man jump into a mail truck near the Carol City Post Office located at 18690 Northwest 37 Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing a brown car following the mail truck as it took off. The post office may have been the target of the robbery, and officials say the end of the month is the time federal welfare and social security checks typically arrive, making mail carriers more vulnerable.

Police arrived at the post office and reportedly saw a brown Honda parked near the scene. Police took the driver of that car into custody and are questioning him at this hour.

Authorities said the mail carrier, identified as Tanya Mitchell, works at the Carol City Post Office.

Miami-Dade County police conducted a low-speed pursuit of the truck for more than 90 minutes in the area of Miami Gardens Drive and 52nd Avenue. Officers maintained their distance and closed in on the vehicle at varioius times.

FeedRoom


Slow-Speed Chase Of Mail Truck




The mail truck stopped and started several times during the chase, stopping for traffic signals and even making contact with various pedestrians as it made a circular route near Miami Gardens Drive and the Palmetto Expressway. Police questioned each of the pedestrians who made contact with those inside the vehicle, and at least one of the witnesses could be seen running toward police as if delivering a message from the gunman or driver.

During the chase, witnesses reported hearing yelling orders at the driver, and a television helicopter shot showed two guns sitting in the mail bin on the passenger's seat.

The gunman allegedly threatened to shoot at police and news helicopters which were hovering overhead.

Police cordoned off the area to keep other drivers away and allowed the truck to drive unmolested on the streets as a safety precaution.

The truck stopped at the intersection of Northwest 183st Street and 27th Avenue after officers used spikes in the road to blow out the truck's tires. The female postal worker then moved to the back of the truck, where the gunman had been crouched throughout the chase.

The doors to the truck were closed but a window was open, allowing air into the vehicle. Officials have brought in a duplicate mail truck to help police analyze the situation.

Unconfirmed eyewitness reports said relatives of the gunman were pleading with him by phone not to harm the hostage.

Police were in communication with the gunman, who is described as a black man, by cellular phone and were attempting to negotiate the release of the hostage at around 1:40 p.m., Friday. Reports said the gunman was attempting to block the passenger window with bins of mail.

At one point, police maneuvered a remote-control robot near the front of the truck to give the gunman a cell phone after his phone battery died.

No Apparent Link To Earlier Domestic Shooting

Authorities were investigating a possible link between the hijacking and an earlier incident in Fort Myers, where police were reportedly searching for a man who allegedly shot his wife at a Citgo gas station. A "Be On The Lookout" (BOLO) alert was issued for the man who shot his estranged wife in the head and then drove south on Alligator Alley, eventually abandoning his car near the Miami area.

It now appears that the incidents are unrelated.

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Flying Fig Newton? Such talk.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lizadee, I am 3 hours ahead of the board. It's going on 4 o'clock here.

Thanks, for the info, Wink.

Wink, was it Alex Penelas that they interviewed? Take a good look at him. He might run for President one day. But I think his ears are to big.

Fruitbat

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gary Hart never made it because of this affliction. Eveyone mistakenly thought Donna Rice was to blame.

Wink

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I only heard him, didn't see him but that doesn't sound like the name. Do you have more than one? Mayor I mean.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
There's a Miami Mayor (don't remember his name) and then for somereason we have a county mayor. But the county mayor changed the county's name to Miami-Dade to make himself sound more important.

Wink

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 01:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Then it must have been the city mouse. I mean mayor.

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 01:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
It's over. He came out on his own.

Thankfully, nobody got hurt. But this guy threw away the rest of his life for probably a couple thousand dollars at the most. What a waste.

Danzdol

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
grooch you are so funny, I thought of coming over to post about it and I said "grooch probably did" I come here now and sure enough-Grooch to the rescue! :)

Grooch

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 02:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh Danz, you should have come earlier and joined in on the fun. :)

Crossfire alerted me to it. I was watching the live stream from channel 6 news on the internet. (shhh! Don't tell my boss.) I plan on telling people that their checks are late because they must have been in the truck that was hijacked.

Twiggyish

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 05:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Grooch, that shooting in Ft. Myers was on the news this morning. The woman was at a gas station and was shot in the head this morning by her estranged husband. We don't usually have anything like this happen!!

The strange twist in this incident is the estranged husband was also involved in a terrible car accident last month. His car hit and killed a beloved high school teacher in the area.

I'm just glad this incident wasn't connected and that you are safe!

By the way, the man has not been captured.

Ginger1218

Friday, January 31, 2003 - 06:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
isnt there a different mayor for Miami and for Miami Beach? I met the one for Miami Beach when I was there 2 weeks ago. He is a young, nice looking guy with dark hair. And also the ex-mayer, his name is Rosen I think. I had drinks with both of them at Joe Allens in Miami Beach.
Ok, I know, big deal LOL