Police Take Man Into Custody Who Claimed to Be God While Smashing into Baltimore TV Station
Police have taken a man who allegedly rammed a truck into a Baltimore television station and barricaded himself inside the building into custody.
According to the Baltimore County police, no one was injured in the incident that started just before noon when the suspect smashed a stolen truck into the ABC affiliate’s lobby and, armed with a golf club, made his way to the second floor.
Police responded with an hours long search of the evacuated building.
Police said the man they took into custody was watching television at the station during the public safety personnel response. Officials believe the man is mentally ill.
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Baltimore County police said the suspect is being given medical treatment.
Baltimore’s ABC affiliate WMAR (ABC2) reported the vehicle, reportedly a stolen maintenance truck, smashed through its lobby just before noon. The driver, wearing a backpack, then entered the building as the station’s news director screamed for everyone in the newsroom to get out.
ABC2 news reporter Brian Kuebler provided a first-hand account:
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A hole the size of several garage doors could be seen in the front of the building Tuesday afternoon.
Early on, WMAR reported its staff was accounted for and anchor Jamie Costello told WJZ:
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When police officers arrived, the suspect was not in the vehicle, according to CBS affiliate WJZ.
During an afternoon news conference that WBAL, the local NBC affiliate reported, Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elisa Armacost said officials didn’t know if the suspect is armed or where he is.
This was posted on WMAR’s Facebook page shortly after the incident began:
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Twitter user @KellyfromABC2, described on the account as ABC2’s news director, tweeted this image:
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A nearby school, St. Pius X, was placed on lockdown, and according to WBAL Radio students are being dismissed with police assistance.
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