Aug 14, 2009 8:29 am US/Pacific
Westwood Standoff Ends -- Finally, Peacefully
WESTWOOD (CBS) ―
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A robot drops tear gas into the Volkswagen Beetle at the center of a 7-hour standoff in Westwood.
CBS
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A suspect who made a threat against the White House was involved in a standoff for several hours in Westwood.
CBS
A man suspected of making threats against the White House and who lasted in a standoff with police and law enforcement agents --including the Secret Service -- was finally taken into custody Thursday evening, after a nearly 9-hour battle of wills.
The standoff with authorities took place between the suspect and the FBI and LAPD just outside the Federal Building in West Los Angeles.
Police Sgt. Kevin Lowe said officers on Thursday morning pursued the suspect's red Volkswagen through the city's west side and surrounded his car at the building's entrance.
The building had been locked down since noon and FBI employees were being asked to stay inside throughout the early evening.
At least four, and possibly five, cannister drops of tear gas were used to get the suspect into custody.
Police pursued the suspect's red Volkswagen through the city's west side and surrounded the car with their guns drawn, according to Amelia Earhart, who was overhead in News Chopper 2.
After about six hours, officials dropped the first of three canisters of tear gas into the vehicle with the aid of a robotic arm. Gary Lineberry reporting overhead in Sky 9 said "We haven't seen if the man has a gas mask or anything, but how he is staying in that car is anyone's guess."
Later, Derek Bell, also reporting in Sky 9 said, "I've never seen anything like this."
Lisa Sigell, reporting for KCAL 9 and CBS 2 on the ground, said police issued a warrant for the man's arrest and searched his home where they found a large cache of fireworks.
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller says the police and FBI are at the scene with a four-wheeled robot equipped with a camera to monitor the suspect.
Lowe said two misdemeanors warrants were out for the man's arrest, but he would not provide more information about his prior arrest history.
U.S. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donavan says the suspect made a threat against the White House but would not elaborate.
Officials were not ready to name the suspect but neighbors and the man's mother told The Daily Breeze that the man is 56-year-old Joe Moshe of Westchester.
One neighbor told reporters that Moshe "had issues." Another told The Daily Breeze that Moshe is usually "harmless" until "he goes off his meds."
The man's 90-year-old mother told reporters her son was "depressed."
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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