SWAT Team With Tank Used On Despondent 73 Year Old Grandma
[From KB in Seattle] 6-15-1
I thought you might find this interesting. I live in Washington State. This evening 6/14/01 on the local news (KOMO 4) I saw a story about a woman who was 'holding an apartment complex hostage' (Catchy headline, huh?). Here is the verbatim headline directly from the KOMO website:
"A Seattle police SWAT team was still deployed at 127th and Greenwood Thursday night, where a 73-year-old despondent woman may have a gun inside her apartment. Greenwood was closed in both directions between 125th and 130th."
Now at first, common sense says 'Hmmm, a 73 yr old woman? How dangerous could that possibly be?' Well, the reporters briefly interviewed at least six people on the scene. Their comments were as follows (I am quoting as best I can remember) -
Woman#1- "She's just a sweet old lady."
Child 1 & 2 - "She has always been nice to me and my sister."
Man #1- "Her husband just died and I know she was very distraught, I mean VERY distraught."
Several more people commented similarly. As the local residents commented, in the background you can clearly see SWAT AND REGULAR POLICE in FULL RIOT GEAR! Not only that, the next clip shows a TANK type vehicle driving around the perimeter (as they have closed the surrounding streets to the apt complex off). The tank announcing instructions to the residents via some sort of loudspeaker inside the tank. Odd in such a quiet neighborhood, don't you think. (Much like that of some other police state type countries that come to mind.) By the way, they have also EVACUATED the entire apartment complex.
One civilian man was physically detained by several officers when he tried to break the perimeter. I do not know if he was trying to get to this poor old woman to try to help, or trying to get to his own place. However, the reporter commented that MANY residents had gathered on their own, at the scene, to ask if they could somehow communicate with her or help her in some way. The reporter said the police as of yet had not allowed that. Apparently she was well-liked. Also notice the headline says she may have a gun. Even if she does it cannot be a task that requires this type of ridiculous and ludicrous tomfoolery.
I must say this is rather troubling to me, as I am sure it is to those directly involved. I ask, why does it take a SWAT team, a tank, and at least 50 uniformed police to subdue a 73-year old woman who has just suffered what is probably the most significant loss of her life? What will become of this woman? What must these people think seeing this army of law enforcement descend upon their quiet neighborhood and reek useless havoc? Why are my tax dollars being spent funding the militant harassment of some senior citizen woman with a recently dead husband and probably a mountain of medical bills?
By the way, did I mention by the time I saw the story at 11 PM (PCT) the 'peacekeepers' (as I like to now call them) had been there for NINE HOURS already. A shelter had been set up for the evacuated residents and the Red Cross had been called in -- ALL OVER A 73 YEAR OLD Woman!
Ok, Ok... maybe she walks real slow, so they figure it will take at least 7-8 hours for her to get to the door, then another 10 hours or so to get her subdued, cuffed, and secured. Oh, please.
My personal thoughts? -- Just more US Government 'hands-on field practice' for what is yet to come. And I must admit as tragic as this poor woman's plight, I laughed aloud at the completely unexpected site of the moving, speaking tank. As it flashed on the screen my first thought was 'They're coming to get grandma with a freakin' (not exactly the word I chose) TANK?'
Oooh, watch out guys! She may be armed with an automatic aluminum walker!
From KB in Seattle |
