8-hour Westwood standoff ends with suspect's arrest
Authorities ended an eight-hour standoff outside the Federal Building in Westwood tonight with the arrest of a man suspected of making threats against the White House.
After repeatedly firing tear gas into the suspect's Volkswagen Beetle, officers pulled him out and placed him under arrest. His condition was not known.
Apartment buildings near the Federal Building's parking lot, as well as some federal offices, were evacuated because of the standoff. Veteran Avenue and surrounding streets were closed.
The incident began with a pursuit through parts of the Westside and ended at the Federal Building, where the Los Angeles Police Department and UCLA police officers blocked the vehicle.
The Daily Breeze reported that the suspect is a 56-year-old man from Westchester. His mother told the paper that he suffers from depression.
The LAPD went to the man's home to search for bomb-making equipment but apparently didn't find any.
—Andrew Blankstein and Nicole Santa Cruz in Westwood
Photos: SWAT team members shoot a Taser at a suspect identified as Joseph Moshe before removing him from his vehicle in front of the Federal Building in Westwood. Moshe had fled after U.S. Secret Service agents attempted to arrest him near his Westchester home.
Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times
$10 says he's a Republican.
Posted by: Melaine Samson | August 13, 2009 at 07:19 PM
I am amazed that reporters who were allegedly in Westwood insist on claiming that police "fired" tear gas into the car. With live coverage from the ground and the air readily available, it was clear to see that police used a robot to drop tear gas canisters through a side window. Don't you folks in the media watch the media?
Posted by: Dan | August 13, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Those VW driving hippies are always causing trouble.
Posted by: stirfry | August 13, 2009 at 08:07 PM
This is when we need to have a sniper. This could've been over in five minutes. Instead, our coddled, PC society lets thousands of people be inconvienced today. He's depressed, so everyone has to suffer. Amazing. Insanity (all puns intended). Sigh.
Posted by: Michael, MPA | August 13, 2009 at 08:39 PM
this is down right ridiculous! the city of westwood spent 2 million dollars on this "bombing beatle"!! this is so embarrising.....
8 fr*icken hours
Posted by: LOLA | August 13, 2009 at 09:12 PM
I was there and I am curious to know what kind of tear gaz were they using?They did at list four times and the 56 years old men was out of the car just fine. Is the tear gaz for births? What was the price tag ?
Posted by: ffa | August 13, 2009 at 09:39 PM
They knew the guy has a history of mental illness. They knew he was off his meds. They knew he had no bombs, bomb materials. They had the capacity to get him his meds, and wait it out. They had professionals available for this. But instead, I watched, they submitted a mental patient to at least 4 canisters of tear gas and a firehose-like stream of pepper spray. Then they tased him.
This is torture. They tortured a mental patient, after they had his whole dossier and history, they tortured him. There is a better way for squat and the SS to do their jobs with mental patients.
Posted by: clvngodess | August 14, 2009 at 08:11 AM
I'll double your $10.00 that he's got to be a democrate...since their always depressed............
Posted by: jdawg | August 14, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Another wack job who neighbors know that when he is off his meds acts up. Are we surprised that he blames everyone else for his own inability to take his medicine. Throw this loser in jail.
Posted by: Montana | August 14, 2009 at 10:50 AM