Witnesses say man may have pulled gun as Obama motorcade passed near Ground Zero

[sufrommich]

NEW YORK — Authorities apprehended a man who witnesses say may have pulled a gun out of a backpack as President Barack Obama's motorcade passed today in New York.

The man, who wore a blue hat, had dark curly hair and appeared to be in his 20s, was wearing a backpack. New York Police Department officers and Secret Service agents shouted, "Get down, get down," and tackled the man at the corner of Church and Vessey Streets in lower Manhattan.

Obama had just left the World Trade Center site and his motorcade was turning from Vessey Street to Church Street when the incident occurred in front of the Church Street Station Post Office.

The man was taken into the post office as dozens of officers from various organizations arrived to assist.

Two photographers, from the New York Daily News and the Associated Press, snapped photos of the man as he was taken down. They went into the post office with police to show them the photos.


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/authorities_apprehend_man_witn.html

[Skip_In_Boulder]

1. The Freepers are starting to come out of the woodwork. n/t

[tridim]

3. My money is on Xe.

Hired by ???

[woodsprite]

4. Now we know why Bush didn't want to be there? n/t

[glinda]

8. I had thought that a while back before this too.

[gkhouston]

6. Koch? n/t

[jpak]

2. Moran fail & epic

yup

[gkhouston]

5. In a weird way, I almost hope it was a weapon. If it was just a camera,

I'd really feel sorry for that guy.

[virgogal]

7. He "may have" pulled a gun? Maybe it was a cell phone.

[Ian David]

11. Maybe it was a cell phone AND a gun...

[virgogal]

12. That too. :-)

[mmonk]

13. .

:rofl:

[backscatter712]

20. I'm not sure I'd want to answer that phone...

When it rings, do you point it at your ear and pull the trigger?

[gkhouston]

25. I'd like to see the "call forwarding" features on that puppy. n/t

[LeftinOH]

9. "may have" pulled a gun means there "may not" be any story here. We'll just see. n/t

Anybody reaching into a bag/backpack is going to draw the attention of the secret service. Someone who is unfamiliar with being around the POTUS or other high-ranking people may not know what *not* to do.

[Ian David]

10. Here's a photo...

[brooklynite]

14. UPDATE: Suspicious man tackled by NYPD cops, Secret Service close to President Obama's visit

from the NY Daily News:

A Daily News photographer captured this dramatic photo of cops tackling a suspicious man riding his bike on the sidewalk near President Obama's appearance at Ground Zero Thursday.

Photographer Bryan Smith was working the scene on Church St. when he suddenly saw the person who had a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

The man was walking his bike toward the World Trade Center, saying "Secret Service, Secret Service coming through."

Cops quickly tackled the man, wrestling him to the sidewalk. One cop kept his weapon aimed at the man, while another officer searched his bag. He was whisked away and questioned by police.

Sounds overblown to me

[Ian David]

15. Sounds like a bike messenger posing as Secret Service to get through the crowd and make a delivery.

[Ikonoklast]

21. And almost wins Darwin Award in the process.

Guess his deliveries are all late now, what an idiot.

[Ian David]

22. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Just ask OBL. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

23. Too soon?

...I THINK NOT!


:rofl:










I'm stealing that!

[Ian David]

24. You can't steal it until after I give it to Stephanie Miller tomorrow. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

26. You got twenty-four hours.

Deal.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Maybe. But I'd rather not have them fuck around and assume it's nothing.

Wouldn't you?

[Ian David]

19. Absolutely. n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Hipster doofus decides to play 1990's era vintage Gameboy at wrong time

:rofl:

[malaise]

18. Enjoy prison moron

[Atypical Liberal]

27. The man did not have a gun.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/05/05/2011-05-05_suspicious_man_tackled_by_nypd_cops_secret_service_close_to_president_obamas_vis.html

[flamingdem]

28. Wow! The comments show that New Yorkers take took the visit and security

very seriously. I guess the optics were bad though to have attracted the cops attention like that.