The current rumor surrounding a white van...

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Answers

Whoops, just a drunk, not the sniper?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Well, SOMETHING going on, but can't tell from the scraps of information.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

This may make no sense (why should it??), but as summarized on another board...

"To summarize everything from local news stations (Channel WWBT12 and Channel 6 in Richmond): Woman driving child to school this morning (she didn't know schools were closed) arrives at school to see only one other vehicle in parking lot. She says vehicle was the white van and two ASIAN/ETHNIC men were inside. She calls 911, and van leaves after a few minutes. Police converge on same van at Exxon at Parham and Broad while van is at pay phone. Witness (man who works at car dealership accross the street: Royal Oldsmobile) says that SWAT yanks ONLY ONE MAN, who is NOT WHITE and NOT BLACK... MAYBE HISPANIC... out of vehicle. ATF took male witness (from dealership) away a few minutes ago... is also seeking original female witness (911 caller). Expect the media info to dry up quickly."

Not supposed to be the sniper. Might be tied in with whoever made the call.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Police Take Van Driver Into Custody Near Richmond

By R.H. Melton and Michael Shear Washington Post Staff Writers Monday, October 21, 2002; 10:33 AM

Police in suburban Richmond took a man into custody this morning at an Exxon gas station and confiscated the white Plymouth Voyager minivan that he had parked next to a public telephone.

It was unclear what prompted the massive police action or if the man had anything to do with the investigation into the string of sniper shootings that has terrorized the Washington area. But Lt. Doug Goodman of the Hanover County Sheriff�s Department confirmed police had seized the van, and that �it was specific enough to be a suspect in all the cases.� He wouldn�t confirm that an arrest had been made, but an officer and a witness on the scene said a man had been taken from the van.

Officers and investigators swarmed the area, just west of the Richmond city line in Henrico County, where officers with assault-style rifles stood watch as the van was hauled away.

The minivan was positioned so that the payphone could be reached from the driver�s seat and had temporary license plates.

Keith Underwood, who works at the Royal Oldsmobile next door to the Exxon station, said that he and other employees had noticed police cruisers in the area shortly after 8 a.m., and had seen plainclothes police officers with compact binoculars nearby as the van sat in the gas station parking lot.

Suddenly officers approached the van, Underwood said, and pulled the man out.

The police, Underwood said, �were 100 percent organized and quick. They came from everywhere.�

Shortly after the man was taken into custody, Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief Charles A. Moose appeared before reporters in Rockville for a quick, cryptic statement. �We are going to respond to a message that we have received,� he said. �We will respond later. We are preparing that response at this time.�

He took no questions and gave no explanation for his remarks.

Moose had surprised reporters last night with an announcement that police had received a message at the scene of the latest shooting in Hanover County, near Richmond. Sources later said that authorities believe that the message came from the sniper.

If so, it would mark his second known communication with police since the string of shootings began Oct. 2. Prince George�s County police found a tarot card with the message �Mister Policeman, I am God,� near the scene of an Oct. 7 shooting at Benjamin Trasker Middle School in Bowie. That shooting critically injured a 13-year-old boy.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Question:

Does this van and occupant correspond to Matthew Dowdy's description of what he saw at the Home Depot shooting?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Does anyone know if it was just Dear Policeman or Dear Mister Policeman? Some pundit has announced that Dear Mister Policeman is an indication of a foreigner because we have lost that level of respect or something.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

delayed 1 pm update says two in custody and being questioned. Not charged as yet.

Van is being checked out, no update on findings there.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

Barefoot, not Dowdy (apparently he wasn't released on bail), but someones just as stupid...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/03/national/main524252.shtml

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002

I remember clearly when this story first broke it was reported as Dear Mr. Later reports left out the Mr. I remember thinking at the time that, given the gender awareness of the last few years, it's not likely that an American (at least, not one under about 50) would use two male gender specific terms together. A witness to the arrest today said the guy she saw was "olive-skiined," "like a Hispanic."

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002