.
Today I stuck my head out the door to check the weather (gray & humid, but not hot) and when I looked down the street I saw four police cars. Looking around I saw two officers at the front of a house and one had his hand-gun drawn. Next, some other police cars arrive and they set up a perimeter with their cars around the front of the house. Well, more and more cars kept arriving and the officers pulled out shotguns, long guns and bullet-proof vests. This was pretty serious stuff.
When the officers lined up behind their cars I realized if someone in the house fired at them the bullets would be headed toward my house. So, I took my mother downstairs to wait a while. But, nothing happened, except more and more police arrived, filling up the street with their SUVs and a big white van. There were also a couple of cars which didn't have police markings, but had the colored lights.
One officer got out of his car and hitched up his belt & yelled to ask if everybody was alright. I figured right away he was the boss. Instead of a gun he pulled out a yellow legal pad. Instead of arming himself he asked if another officer needed a gun. He said, "Do you want a long gun. I've got one. Do you want it?" He was clearly experienced at this kind of thing. I suspect he was the negotiator.
Mostly there was quiet with the officers waiting in place, guns & rifles drawn. A few cars turned in the street and had to turn around. It took a long while before the local NBC press turned up with a reporter and cameraman. They kept their distance until it was all over. Then they moved up the street to take better pictures and to interview a few people.
An officer used a bullhorn to talk to the men inside. One always presumes it's men. He even called one of the men by name! After a little talk the man came out hands up and was taken away. He looked like he had just gotten out of bed, so he was probably taken somewhat by surprise. But, there were apparently two men and the other wasn't budging.
Finally, another officer arrived and put on a helmet. I figured this had to be a SWAT guy who planned on going in the house. It didn't take long until he had about a dozen men around him with rifles and they were getting the plan. Some went around the house, some went up the hill away from the house, perhaps to find a sniper's post. Several got in position with shields to go in the front.
Very quickly a handful of them in two groups started towards the front door in their hurried short-step pace, huddled as if being 1" shorter would help. I went into the other room because it was clear that if anything violent was going to happen it would be now. Apparently they got the other man without shots fired.
Later, when all the police were relaxed and walking down the street casually (though still carrying rifles) one officer saw me and came to the door to answer questions. He said they got both men safely and nobody was hurt. He told me these men had known the previous occupants of the house and knew it was now vacant. He didn't say if they were known to be dangerous or had arrest warrants outstanding.
Now I know how the citizens of Boston may have felt when the manhunt led police through residential neighborhoods and chasing men down the street. At least we didn't have to have gunfire.
This is incredibly unusual for my neighborhood. It's usually quiet and safe. The main thing which made this possible was the availability of guns and the vacant house where these men could hide.
Would a better background check have kept them from getting guns? I don't know, but it might have.
Today I stuck my head out the door to check the weather (gray & humid, but not hot) and when I looked down the street I saw four police cars. Looking around I saw two officers at the front of a house and one had his hand-gun drawn. Next, some other police cars arrive and they set up a perimeter with their cars around the front of the house. Well, more and more cars kept arriving and the officers pulled out shotguns, long guns and bullet-proof vests. This was pretty serious stuff.
When the officers lined up behind their cars I realized if someone in the house fired at them the bullets would be headed toward my house. So, I took my mother downstairs to wait a while. But, nothing happened, except more and more police arrived, filling up the street with their SUVs and a big white van. There were also a couple of cars which didn't have police markings, but had the colored lights.
One officer got out of his car and hitched up his belt & yelled to ask if everybody was alright. I figured right away he was the boss. Instead of a gun he pulled out a yellow legal pad. Instead of arming himself he asked if another officer needed a gun. He said, "Do you want a long gun. I've got one. Do you want it?" He was clearly experienced at this kind of thing. I suspect he was the negotiator.
Mostly there was quiet with the officers waiting in place, guns & rifles drawn. A few cars turned in the street and had to turn around. It took a long while before the local NBC press turned up with a reporter and cameraman. They kept their distance until it was all over. Then they moved up the street to take better pictures and to interview a few people.
An officer used a bullhorn to talk to the men inside. One always presumes it's men. He even called one of the men by name! After a little talk the man came out hands up and was taken away. He looked like he had just gotten out of bed, so he was probably taken somewhat by surprise. But, there were apparently two men and the other wasn't budging.
Finally, another officer arrived and put on a helmet. I figured this had to be a SWAT guy who planned on going in the house. It didn't take long until he had about a dozen men around him with rifles and they were getting the plan. Some went around the house, some went up the hill away from the house, perhaps to find a sniper's post. Several got in position with shields to go in the front.
Very quickly a handful of them in two groups started towards the front door in their hurried short-step pace, huddled as if being 1" shorter would help. I went into the other room because it was clear that if anything violent was going to happen it would be now. Apparently they got the other man without shots fired.
Later, when all the police were relaxed and walking down the street casually (though still carrying rifles) one officer saw me and came to the door to answer questions. He said they got both men safely and nobody was hurt. He told me these men had known the previous occupants of the house and knew it was now vacant. He didn't say if they were known to be dangerous or had arrest warrants outstanding.
Now I know how the citizens of Boston may have felt when the manhunt led police through residential neighborhoods and chasing men down the street. At least we didn't have to have gunfire.
This is incredibly unusual for my neighborhood. It's usually quiet and safe. The main thing which made this possible was the availability of guns and the vacant house where these men could hide.
Would a better background check have kept them from getting guns? I don't know, but it might have.
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