Man seizes crane in LA for more than 8 hours


PDA






AZTOY
May 30, 2003, 10:29 PM
Man seizes crane in LA for more than 8 hours
Associated Press
May. 30, 2003 07:05 AM


LOS ANGELES - A man seized control of a construction crane towering above downtown for more than eight hours, rotating the cab and throwing objects at rescue teams before finally surrendering early Friday, authorities said.

Kevin Donaldson, 43, was arrested about 4 a.m. after he peacefully climbed down from the cab. Police said he will likely face vandalism charges.

A caller reported seeing Donaldson in the crane at a construction site about a block from City Hall at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said. As police officers and firefighters arrived, the man began hurling objects down to the ground at them, Wells said.

The crane is on the site of what is to be a new state Department of Transportation building.

Police said Donaldson told them he used to be crane operator in Montana before moving to Los Angeles. Before authorities cut power to the crane, he dropped its hook and rotated its cab for a time.

Negotiators were eventually able to talk Donaldson down. He told police that he hadn't seen his children in seven years and that he wanted to kill himself.



http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0530CraneSitter30-
ON.html (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0530CraneSitter30-ON.html)

If you enjoyed reading about "Man seizes crane in LA for more than 8 hours" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!
Sir Galahad
May 30, 2003, 10:43 PM
Better enact some "common sense" crane laws. For the children.

Preacherman
May 30, 2003, 10:45 PM
If the things he threw down had hit someone on the head, would that have been a crane-ial injury? :D

Standing Wolf
May 30, 2003, 10:53 PM
He told police that he hadn't seen his children in seven years and that he wanted to kill himself.

His children probably have more sense than he.

Mark Tyson
May 31, 2003, 03:53 PM
Maybe this guy just saw "Fight Club"!

Combat-wombat
May 31, 2003, 06:47 PM
Better enact some "common sense" crane laws. For the children.
I know, they have no legitimate sporting purpose! Have you seen how tall those high-capacity assault cranes can get?

sanchezero
June 1, 2003, 01:40 AM
Maybe this guy just saw "Fight Club"!

This week, all of you have a homework assignment...

If you enjoyed reading about "Man seizes crane in LA for more than 8 hours" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!