UPDATE:
At least a name is being released, if not a reason why, in yesterday’s (01.01.12) standoff in Owensboro, Kentucky: Joseph Kurtz, 44, was apprehended at his mother’s home where he’d kept himself barricaded for eight hours.
There was no mention, in the outcome, of what happened to an initially-reported hostage; what Kurtz’ problem was (although Owensboro police did state that they’ve “dealt with him in the past”); and interestingly, why he was charged with burglary.
However, reports did mention that people around the home were evacuated, and extreme measures (which all cost the taxpayer dearly, no doubt) were utilized in his “apprehension,” including cutting electricity to the residence, calling in the bomb squad (???), rolling a robot into the residence, using two concussion grenades and seven cans of tear gas, and of course eight hours of ‘negotiations.’
Officials were quick to point out that those who didn’t “evacuate when told to” were “told” to “stay inside their homes.” Nothing like a good ol lockdown on New Year’s Day, huh?
If you’re getting the impression that these “hostage/standoff” situations with their overblown responses seem like little more than conditioning for upcoming police state events, you’re with us….the media’s coverage of them, while intense, is thin on facts, and the follow-up is never anything resembling resolving the issue. Should we demand more of the media who’s covering these things, more of the cops who are/are NOT issuing information to them? Let us know what you think.
Here’s the original post from yesterday:
OWENSBORO, Ky.—Well, here we go again, with a reported “standoff,” a man barricaded inside his own home, and a hostage being taken, this time at a location in Owensboro, Kentucky.
It's like that...only real.
Naturally, the information is thin, and all we’re being told is the above…and that power is being shut off to residences around the one in question, which is located at the corner of Old Cabin Road and Ford Avenue.
Question: Really? That’s going to help? Is the guy brandishing an electric weapon and so with no power to the home, that makes him less dangerous? Surely having no power for heat will impact him and his decision-making….it’s almost 50 degrees outside.
Naturally, local mainstream media isn’t asking the tough question of WHY the power is being cut….so we’ll just have to wait and see….as well as wait to find out if he’s armed, if he’s dangerous to anyone other than the hostage, who he is, who his hostage is, and the big question that we didn’t get answered with the LAST “hostage situation”, that one in Evansville: WHY? Disgruntled (pick one) husband, boyfriend, former employee, babydaddy? Escapee from an insane asylum? Lunatic on a drug-induced rampage? Who knows?
We’ll see how this one plays out. Keep checking back; we’ll update if we can.