armed man waves flag and shuts down freeway

[Amby 490]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A masked gunman waving an American flag on a Highway 101 overpass shut down the freeway for hours just west of downtown on Monday as police negotiated with him.

Police Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte said the unidentified man, wearing a ski mask and brown fatigues, was waving the flag with one hand and had a handgun in the other when officers arrived on the La Cumbre Avenue overpass just after 7:10 a.m.

No shots were fired. A police special weapons and tactics team and a crisis negotiation team were using a bullhorn to communicate with the man. Nearly three hours into the siege he put the handgun on the ground but police did not immediately move in.

As for the man's motive, Duarte said, "The reason appears to be anti-war, but I don't know the specifics."

But the sergeant said no one knows who the man is or what he wants.

The freeway was shut down in both directions and the California Highway Patrol reported at 10 a.m. that traffic was backed up at least three miles in each direction.

Motorists stuck on the freeway got out of their vehicles and chatted or waved at media helicopters.

The La Cumbre overpass links the exclusive Hope Ranch and La Cumbre Golf & Country Club on the south to the La Cumbre Plaza shopping mall and State Street to the northeast. Santa Barbara is 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446284,00.html

**They just updated this on the news a few mins ago and they said the man wants a campaign sign with Obama on it. They don't know what he wants it for but they're finding him one.

[almaty 19]

california, sheesh...

[IAMX 3,055]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

Edited November 3, 2008 by SRVT

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

you didn't read the article, did you? he wanted an obama sign.

[Amby 490]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

you didn't read the article, did you? he wanted an obama sign.

They haven't said what he wanted to do with the Obama sign though

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

Actually, the subject (as well as the media gawper-wavers) sounds like ultra-typical Californian

[IAMX 3,055]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

you didn't read the article, did you? he wanted an obama sign.

Probably so he could shoot it. That is, playing along.. as there is no mention of a sign or Obama in the article.

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

Actually, the subject (as well as the media gawper-wavers) sounds like ultra-typical Californian

Must be Republican. Democrats hate guns, and America, remember? Why would they wave either? This is also in Southern Cal. Republican territory. Your bad.

Edited November 3, 2008 by SRVT

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Sounds like a Republican.

Edit: And the people getting out of their cars to wave at the media helicopters (i.e. to get on TV) sound like.. Californians.

you didn't read the article, did you? he wanted an obama sign.

Probably so he could shoot it. That is, playing along.. as there is no mention of a sign or Obama in the article.

shoot it? that's idiotic. and yes, him wanting a sign was mentioned in the op.

**They just updated this on the news a few mins ago and they said the man wants a campaign sign with Obama on it. They don't know what he wants it for but they're finding him one.

[IAMX 3,055]

shoot it? that's idiotic. and yes, him wanting a sign was mentioned in the op.

Here's your post:

you didn't read the article, did you? he wanted an obama sign.

You didn't read the article, did you?

Self-ownage, charles.

[Amby 490]

wait....what?

I'm going to look for an update

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Do do do do do do do. (Jeopardy theme song)

[Amby 490]

I look for an update again. There wasn't one an hour ago.

[IAMX 3,055]

I'm still waiting to see why charles told me to read the article when the Obama/sign thing wasn't there.

[Amby 490]

ok....

Santa Barbara, CA-- A masked gunman waving an American flag and a handgun on a freeway overpass surrendered to police Monday after forcing a traffic shutdown for hours.

The man gave himself up at midmorning west of downtown Santa Barbara at Highway 101, a major route along the California coast. No shots were fired. Traffic was backed at least three miles in each direction.

The man agreed to give up after he was allowed to attach a Barack Obama campaign sign and the flag to the overpass railing, said police Sgt. Jim Pfleging.

Police were continuing to investigate a duffel bag and the man's car at the scene but "we have no credible threats or any threats of explosives," Pfleging said.

Police identified the man as 28-year-old Eddie Van Tassel. Pfleging said the man is believed to be a service veteran and will receive a mental health evaluation.

The man, wearing a ski mask and brown fatigues, had the flag in one hand and the gun in the other when officers arrived on the highway's La Cumbre Avenue overpass just after 7:10 a.m., said police Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte.

A police special weapons and tactics team and a crisis negotiation team used a bullhorn to communicate with him. After nearly three hours, he put the handgun on the ground and walked backward to police officers.

As for the man's motive, Duarte said, "The reason appears to be anti-war, but I don't know the specifics."

http://www.keyt.com/news/local/33750964.html

[Chica Yeyé 41]

If he was not nekkid, it doesn't count.