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Palm Beach Courthouse Reopens, Van Was No Threat

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 12:02:49 PM EST
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The federal courthouse in Palm Beach was closed this morning due to a suspicious van parked nearby. The van had derogatory language printed on it. The language was critical of police handling of a child molestation case.

West Palm Beach police spokesman Chase Scott says a police dog alerted to the possibility of explosives inside a rental van after 8 a.m. Monday. It was checked because of unspecified derogatory comments written on the outside of the van.

After the bomb squads checked out the van and determined there was no threat, the courthouse reopened.

A post office and state health department building were also evacuated.

The line between concern and fear and paranoia is blurring quickly.

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    Palm Beach Courthouse Reopens, Van Was No Threat | 26 comments (26 topical)

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    Similar situation at DFW (none / 0) (#1)
    by Rojas on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 12:15:16 PM EST
    Terminal B was shut down for about two hours

    I wonder if the dog actually "alerted" (none / 0) (#2)
    by republicratitarian on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 12:22:19 PM EST


    Yes, as someone who trains (none / 0) (#4)
    by the capstan on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 01:12:07 PM EST
    dogs for my own service, I wonder about a faslse 'alert' from a dog.  I suppose one could be interfered with some way--but more likely that it picked up a confusing signal from the handler.

    btw--cannot correct typos on far end of the line: they overrun the print 'page right' and all I get when I try to click and correct is re-direction to the underlying site.

    Parent

    Or possibly that the van (none / 0) (#5)
    by the capstan on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 01:14:42 PM EST
    had previously been used to transport some kind of contraband that had not been caught.

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    "You have the right.... (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 12:32:48 PM EST
    to free speech.  Provided, of course, you're not dumb enough to actually try it."

    - The Clash

    Using a rental van as a protest billboard is free protected speech, is it not? The link does not mention if the van was parked legally, thats the only potential police matter I can see...unless of course somebody dropped a dime and made it a police matter.

    Curiosity (none / 0) (#6)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 01:59:19 PM EST
    If a Ryder truck, with a handicap sticker, is parked in the handicap zone in front of the Empire State Building, with a sign on the side that says "screw you all",  would that be something you would like the police to totally ignore?

    Totally unfair question I know. Just like to see you sweat out an answer now and then on when someone should drop a dime :)

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    The handicap sticker... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:12:32 PM EST
    might raise an eyebrow.  I still wouldn't dial 911 myself, my luck I'd get some poor angry handicapped slob trying to move in midtown hassled or locked up, I'd never forgive myself.  Might peep in the windows and investigate.

    If parked in a regular spot, all I might do is whip out a magic marker and add a "yeah, screw 'em all!" :)

    Parent

    i guess I must have missed something (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:21:42 PM EST
    Is a handicap sticker the new weapon of choice for terrorists? Why would a handicap sticker make you raise an eyebrow? What did I miss?

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    You know lots of people (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:25:13 PM EST
    Who legitimately qualify for using a handicap sticker that are moving things big enough to need a truck to move them?

    Parent
    I do know people who (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:31:28 PM EST
    legitimately qualify for using a handicap sticker who would be able to ride in trucks where the driver who is not handicapped is capable of moving things big enough to need a truck to move them.

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#16)
    by jbindc on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:48:59 PM EST
    But in the hypothetical a handicapped sticker on a moving-type truck with a hit for explosives should make law enforcement suspicious.  

    Parent
    I think that you are adding an element (none / 0) (#19)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:03:03 PM EST
    to the hypothetical situation that was not in original situation described by CoralGables.

    If a Ryder truck, with a handicap sticker, is parked in the handicap zone in front of the Empire State Building, with a sign on the side that says "screw you all",  would that be something you would like the police to totally ignore?

    Nope, no hit for explosives anywhere in that comment.

    Parent

    Indeed MO Blue (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:11:11 PM EST
    I didn't want any explosives in the hypothetical at all, just like none in the van, and nothing in the airplane bathroom. But I still think it's better to check when in doubt, even if wrong, than to ignore and suffer the potential aftermath.

    I guess I was always moved by the story of Kitty Genovese and would always prefer someone say something, rather that think it's probably nothing and move along.

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    Kitty Genovese (none / 0) (#22)
    by sj on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:27:44 PM EST
    Me too.  Both moved and horrified.  But there is a big difference between a woman screaming for help for over half an hour and a truck in a handicap parking spot.

    Parent
    True (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:37:57 PM EST
    but there is no major damage in calling attention to something that doesn't look or sound right. Unless of course I whip out my AK-47* and solve it myself.

    Does it lead to some folks looking stupid at times? Sure. I watched the cops blow up an accountant's briefcase once because he set it down next to his car to open the door and forgot about it and drove away. He was notified later it was now in a million pieces.

    *note - For the powers that be that might be stalking my online material today, I own no weapons other than a softball bat and a blackthorn walking stick.

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    I live in South Florida (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:32:52 PM EST
    half the town seems to have a handicap sticker. I think the same doctors and pharmacists that rip off medicare sell them OTC. There was obviously quite a market for them.

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    Bingo... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:35:19 PM EST
    that and the fact it is rare to see any vehicle in a handicapped space with an actual handicapped sticker.

    Not that they have handicapped spaces in front of the Empire State Bldg, afaik they do not.  And any Ryder truck parked 'round there would have a blue and white on 'em like white on rice, with or without a citizen dropping a dime...Manhattan is Police State Central.

    Parent

    I knew you would call me out (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:02:12 PM EST
    on the handicap space in front of the ESB lol

    I do believe they still use it as a loading zone though and I'm thankful the city's finest would be on it like white on rice just as people were in Time's Square last year. Better that the NYPD is vigilant than having to clean up a possible aftermath.

    Parent

    I'd rather they profile vehicles... (none / 0) (#24)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:40:07 PM EST
    than people, sure.  I'd gladly trade the tyrannical stop-n-frisk policy (and many other dubious programs), and have the NYPD focus on suspicious vehicles, provided the owners/drivers aren't excessively hassled.

    Parent
    The handicap sticker (none / 0) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:29:20 PM EST
    was just an added bit for the thought process for anyone that remembered that McVeigh parked his truck in a handicap spot. (to the best of my memory)

    Parent
    Yes but did he have a (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by MO Blue on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:32:22 PM EST
    handicap sticker?

    Parent
    Have to ask Jeralyn that (none / 0) (#17)
    by CoralGables on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:56:14 PM EST
    I was just being hypothetical.

    I had once read McVeigh parked in a handicap spot. Back then, even without a sticker, it would probably have been ignored thinking it was being used as a loading zone.

    Parent

    doubtful (none / 0) (#20)
    by sj on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 03:04:16 PM EST
    even without a sticker, it would probably have been ignored thinking it was being used as a loading zone.

    My brother was a cab driver for years.  He told me once long ago that if I ever had to choose, that I should illegally park in a no parking zone rather than illegally parking in a handicap spot because I would get far less hassle.  

    Now I realize that this might be a regional phenomenon. But I would also note that no matter how full a parking lot is, those handicap spots reservations are pretty scrupulously observed.

    Just sayin'  :)

    Parent

    Handicap Parking (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by WillieB on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 04:39:58 PM EST
    Better to park in a no parking zone because there are massive fines ($250.00 + fees)for parking in a handicap spot without a handicap plate or placard.

    In fact, I have to go to traffic court for that exact same thing tomorrow.

    I do have a placard though so I hope I'll just get a little scolding for forgetting to hang my placard.

    Parent

    Pretty Sure (none / 0) (#26)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Sep 13, 2011 at 09:10:14 AM EST
    There is no parking in front of large buildings, regardless.

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    The van (none / 0) (#8)
    by jbindc on Mon Sep 12, 2011 at 02:21:36 PM EST
    Was previously a UHaul but is now privately owned.

    Parent
    Palm Beach Courthouse Reopens, Van Was No Threat | 26 comments (26 topical)

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