DJDarknez
05-27-2005, 02:14 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/27/crane.man/index.html
Friday, May 27, 2005 Posted: 12:18 PM EDT (1618 GMT)
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Ignoring pleas from police negotiators to surrender to authorities, a suspect in a Florida slaying on Friday remained atop an 18-story construction crane for a second day.
Carl Edward Roland, 41, whom Florida authorities are seeking in the death of Jennifer Gonzalez, 36, mounted the crane Wednesday afternoon at a construction site in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, one of the city's top entertainment districts.
A part of Peachtree Road -- a main artery -- was blocked off near the site, snarling traffic in an already congested area home to many trendy bars and restaurants.
That portion of Peachtree and nearby streets will remain closed until the authorities resolve the situation, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said.
Business owners and residents expressed frustration Friday, concerned over the potential loss of money if the standoff continues through Memorial Day weekend.
"It's almost like he's holding the city hostage," resident Laura Dickey said. "He's caused a lot of problems."
Virginia Morast, owner of a sandwich shop, said that her drivers can't deliver food and her business is down by about 45 percent.
"People are just driving by because they're stuck in traffic, but they can't park anywhere," she said.
Another business owner, Angela Emory, said, "He needs to go away. He needs to leave. ... Just get him down."
On Friday morning, police began moving a large bucket used for carrying concrete along the crane's arm apparently to match Roland's movements. When he moved, the bucket underneath him would follow.
The bucket contained a loud siren, perhaps an effort to keep the man from falling asleep.
Roland moved back and forth along the arm of the crane and appeared to be working on electric cables. He periodically would tie and untie himself to the crane, and he also appeared to be kicking lights on the arm.
Roland spent most of Thursday night lying on a metal grate on the crane's arm, some 350 feet in the air.
"We have offered water and food to him, but he has not accepted either," Pennington said Thursday night.
Pennington said police negotiators would stay as long as it took to talk Roland down.
Authorities contacted Roland's younger sister, who visited the site Thursday in an attempt to persuade him to come down.
"Please, I'm begging you, please come," shouted a woman who identified herself as Towana. "Why won't they let me go up there? I had him almost down."
She wasn't allowed to go to the top of the crane because negotiating teams have rules preventing them from allowing friends or family members to speak to someone who may be suicidal, fearing something they say could make the person act.
About 4 p.m. Wednesday, Roland approached a construction worker, told him he already had committed a crime and hurt someone and demanded that the worker get out of the way, Pennington said. The worker did, and Roland rode up the crane's elevator and climbed out onto its horizontal arm.
He is believed armed with "some type of knife," Pennington said.
The Pinellas County, Florida, authorities said Roland was seen with former girlfriend Gonzalez shortly before her death. Gonzalez's badly beaten body was found Tuesday in a retention pond. After Roland failed to return to his Clearwater, Florida, home, a warrant was issued Wednesday for his arrest.
Florida detectives left Thursday to fly to Atlanta.
Friday, May 27, 2005 Posted: 12:18 PM EDT (1618 GMT)
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Ignoring pleas from police negotiators to surrender to authorities, a suspect in a Florida slaying on Friday remained atop an 18-story construction crane for a second day.
Carl Edward Roland, 41, whom Florida authorities are seeking in the death of Jennifer Gonzalez, 36, mounted the crane Wednesday afternoon at a construction site in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, one of the city's top entertainment districts.
A part of Peachtree Road -- a main artery -- was blocked off near the site, snarling traffic in an already congested area home to many trendy bars and restaurants.
That portion of Peachtree and nearby streets will remain closed until the authorities resolve the situation, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said.
Business owners and residents expressed frustration Friday, concerned over the potential loss of money if the standoff continues through Memorial Day weekend.
"It's almost like he's holding the city hostage," resident Laura Dickey said. "He's caused a lot of problems."
Virginia Morast, owner of a sandwich shop, said that her drivers can't deliver food and her business is down by about 45 percent.
"People are just driving by because they're stuck in traffic, but they can't park anywhere," she said.
Another business owner, Angela Emory, said, "He needs to go away. He needs to leave. ... Just get him down."
On Friday morning, police began moving a large bucket used for carrying concrete along the crane's arm apparently to match Roland's movements. When he moved, the bucket underneath him would follow.
The bucket contained a loud siren, perhaps an effort to keep the man from falling asleep.
Roland moved back and forth along the arm of the crane and appeared to be working on electric cables. He periodically would tie and untie himself to the crane, and he also appeared to be kicking lights on the arm.
Roland spent most of Thursday night lying on a metal grate on the crane's arm, some 350 feet in the air.
"We have offered water and food to him, but he has not accepted either," Pennington said Thursday night.
Pennington said police negotiators would stay as long as it took to talk Roland down.
Authorities contacted Roland's younger sister, who visited the site Thursday in an attempt to persuade him to come down.
"Please, I'm begging you, please come," shouted a woman who identified herself as Towana. "Why won't they let me go up there? I had him almost down."
She wasn't allowed to go to the top of the crane because negotiating teams have rules preventing them from allowing friends or family members to speak to someone who may be suicidal, fearing something they say could make the person act.
About 4 p.m. Wednesday, Roland approached a construction worker, told him he already had committed a crime and hurt someone and demanded that the worker get out of the way, Pennington said. The worker did, and Roland rode up the crane's elevator and climbed out onto its horizontal arm.
He is believed armed with "some type of knife," Pennington said.
The Pinellas County, Florida, authorities said Roland was seen with former girlfriend Gonzalez shortly before her death. Gonzalez's badly beaten body was found Tuesday in a retention pond. After Roland failed to return to his Clearwater, Florida, home, a warrant was issued Wednesday for his arrest.
Florida detectives left Thursday to fly to Atlanta.