E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Tim Sharp / Reuters
A robbery suspect sits in the cab of a construction crane on the SMU campus after climbing the crane in a standoff with police in Dallas, Texas May 28.
DALLAS -- Police were in a standoff Monday with a robbery suspect who climbed up a construction crane about 150 feet above Southern Methodist University’s campus and threatened to shoot officers trying to talk him down.
Officials with the Dallas Police Department said they received a call from Southern Methodist University about a man on a crane who said he had a gun.
Police SWAT units were called in to establish communication with the man. Police have not confirmed whether the man was armed.
Witnesses told NBCDFW.com they saw a man wearing a red shirt perched inside the control box of the crane, located on the south side of the campus.
The man has not moved the crane, which is powerless. The machinery was being used to build student housing.
View NBCDFW.com's story on SWAT called to SMU campus
Dallas Police Department spokesperson Melinda Gutierrez said since the crane doesn’t have any power, it means the cab doesn’t have air conditioning. “That would help in our favor,” Gutierrez told the Dallas Morning News.
Witnesses said they were evacuated from campus buildings on the SMU campus. A nearby gym was also evacuated.
University officials told NBC News classes were not in session on Monday because of the federal holiday. School is also between its May and June sessions.
Streets from U.S. 75 toward the SMU campus on Mockingbird Lane were shut down.
Police said the man was a suspect in an overnight aggravated robbery of a vehicle in the area just before 2:30 a.m. Monday.
NBCDFW.com contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- National Weather Service boss steps down after misappropriation probe
- Remains found at campsite believed to be missing hiker
- Sandy Dahl, wife of 9/11 United Flight 93 pilot, dies at age 52
- Barbecues 'bottom of the list' for mothers of fallen troops
- Video: Gen. Dempsey: Take moment for vets on Memorial Day
Leave a Comment:
Like a cat in the tree, he will eventually come down. Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree. He's making his parents so proud of him. hmmm.
Idiot!
I agree, deweydan, unless he's taken a hostage, or has a high-powered rifle with a scope, I see no urgency in this matter. When he gets hungry and thirsty enough, he'll come down, or he'll put a bullet through his own head, which will be his choice.
He's actually more like a fox in a tree, with the hounds baying around the trunk.
Yup,let him sit up there till he's hungry enough that jail food will taste good.
Imagine what a fiasco it would be if the crane had power.
lol i was thinking the same thing. Only read the article to see if it was operational. Without "wheel men" theres very little he could do with the hook except probably drop it on things within the radius of the crane.
We will see if he is somewhat smart and not start shooting. Unlikely he could hit someone but the swat guys will have no trouble at that range and in a mostly glass room.
No problem at all,chances are if he is armed it's probably with some belly gun in the .22/.25 caliber range.
They'll probably starve him out or if they're lucky the dumb bastard will decide to jump.
So he retreated to a position with no possible hope of escape......
To all stupid criminals....thanks for your assistance....
My thoughts exactly. He obviously didn't think this one through.
Drugs?
No, thanks.
Arizona...your agenda is showing....
da doc. : Good, It's my goal in life.
I'm afraid this guy has seen too many movies. Escaping up is never a good idea. Have you learned nothing from all those roof-top shootouts? Seriously, I'm glad the situation appears to be under control and authorities have had the wisdom to wait him out.
Hmm,. I saw a guy buying a used parachute last week,... ;)
Seeing as how it was used did it have a limited warranty?
Or possibly, satisfaction guaranteed or your money cheerfully refunded?
Back-off, when he gets hungry he will beg to be rescued. End of story.
"The man has not moved the crane, which is powerless." Great reporting!
Dallas is still in Texas. Texans remember the massacre at the University of Texas a number of years ago where a gunman killed 69 people from the top of a tower on campus. If this guy so much as fires one shot, they will bring him down in a body bag.
With that heat, he will die in about 3 to 4 days without water. Just wait him out and then collect the body...
What a swell plan to get away. Soon he will acquire flying skill because he's so close to God.
TOP OF THE WORLD, MA! lol
Dude, you mixed up the plan...you were supposed to hop a TRAIN, not a crane. It's time for the SWAT sharpshooters to take aim, why waste all the man power?
What the H is the big problem. They had a problem with a bear in a tree, and they just shot it with a tranquilizer gun, and of course they missed the catching part big time. Maybe if they dart him, they can just catch him on the way down, or if he decides to lay down and go to sleep, he should be waking up in an 8'x10' cell.
He must be high on something
har har har
Hmmm - so - when nature calls, and the smell gets REALLY bad in there - what's the bet as to how long he'll stay in that cab?
Hmmm - so when nature calls - and given the current temperatures - and given the smell that's certain to ensue in that cramped space - what's the betting as to how long he'll remain there??