TV Station Security Pays Off in Bizarre Standoff

TV Station Security Pays Off in Bizarre Standoff

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Apr 29, 2016

Regularly scheduled programming was disrupted in Baltimore, Maryland on April 28 when a costumed man, outfitted with a vest that seemed to be explosive, walked into the front lobby of a TV station and demanded the materials on a flash drive be aired. What would follow would be a bizarre standoff between Baltimore Police and the 25-year-old.

Around 1 p.m., the man entered into the front lobby vestibule at a building on Baltimore’s TV Hill, the home of Fox 45, Fox News’ Baltimore affiliate. The security guard at the front desk was able to deem the man, dressed in an animal costume that lay over a bulky vest with protruding wires, dangerous and triggered the silent alarm under the desk to warn those in the building to evacuate.

During a live Periscope video filmed by Fox 45 assistant news director Casey Clark, it was learned that the station had been recently targeted in unrelated events that involved broken windows. As a result, the management decided to increase security around the building, an action they are certainly thankful for now.

As the building was being evacuated, the man remained in the lobby area. The security guard did not grant him access to the rest of the building. Around 3 p.m., the man walked out of the front vestibule toward police, ignoring their commands for him to get down, or raise his hands.

The man was shot, according to police, after he defied repeated commands. He did not receive immediate medical treatment, due to the presence of the alleged bomb. Instead, the police sent two bomb squad robots to clear the man of his costume and the explosive device.

The robots delivered the suspected explosive vest to a vacant area of a parking lot where the Baltimore bomb squad was able to determine that the object was made from a flotation device, candy bars, duct tape and the mother board of a fire extinguisher. Police believe he threaded a wire through the sleeve of the animal costume to give the appearance of a detonator in his hand.

Once the man was cleared of dangerous objects, he was taken to the nearest hospital to receive treatment for the injuries sustained in the standoff. His condition is “serious, but stable” and he is expected to survive, according to Baltimore police.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.