Police apprehend man in standoff on Staples Center court

k-money · Mar 19, 2011

I am not sure to post this in the hangout or the dish so i will just post it here. move if neccecary please.

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/03/19/staples-center-standoff.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

Posted Mar 19 2011 3:06PM - Updated Mar 19 2011 7:04PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A steak knife-wielding man held police and security guards at bay for nearly an hour at the Staples Center before the Los Angeles Clippers' game Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, authorities said.

The center's general manager, Lee Zeidman, said the man, who was not identified, walked into the venue through an employee entrance. He said security officers tried to block his entry, but the man was brandishing the blade.
The man ran to the arena floor, where he was met by 25 security staffers who surrounded him until police arrived.
He eventually made his way to the visiting bench, where he spoke to three police officers with their guns drawn from approximately 20 feet away.
Zeidman said the man made no demands or offer a motive for his actions.
"He was talking a lot of gibberish, making a lot of veiled threats, and nobody could really understand him," Zeidman said. "There were no specific demands. He told us: 'Just back away or else you're going to get hurt. Leave me alone. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get whatever I want.'"
Police shot the man with a beanbag gun and detained him after he made a move toward a tunnel leading off the court. He was placed in handcuffs and escorted out by police.
Spectators with VIP access to the 12:30 p.m. game had begun filing into the arena, but were evacuated once the incident began. Players from both teams watched the drama unfold on a TV outside the Cavaliers' dressing room before they were instructed to return to their locker rooms.
The court was reopened to players, media and arena employees 18 minutes after the man's arrest.
Officer Norma Eisenman, a police spokeswoman, confirmed the man's arrest and said an off-duty officer reported the incident, but did not release other details.
Click to expand...

david_rocket · Mar 19, 2011

Wow, that was crazy!

AFS · Mar 19, 2011

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ba...truder-creates-a-scare-at-Stapl?urn=nba-wp330

Police say the man did not have a ticket to the game, but rather used the threat of his knife to make his way through the employee entrance and into the stadium. The intruder ran onto the court, where Cleveland Cavaliers rookie forward Christian Eyenga(notes) was out practicing shooting drills before the road contest. The Congolese native quickly ran back into the locker room, which pleased bemused Cavs coach Byron Scott. "Smart man,'' Scott said of the young player who is still learning to speak English. "He understands knife, I guess. I think that goes all the way to Congo. Knife means get the hell out. So he did the right thing.''
Click to expand...

I thought that line was pretty funny.

TheRealist137 · Mar 19, 2011

what is the point of security if all you need is a knife and a threat in order to get through them?

Forums

Police apprehend man in standoff on Staples Center court

k-money Member

david_rocket Member

AFS Member

TheRealist137 Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!