Fake Bomb Hoax Locks Down Kemah Walmart

[WildBill]

KEMAH, Texas -- The Walmart in Kemah was placed on lockdown early Saturday as authorities confronted a man who had “unknown devices” attached to his body, police said.
Workers and customers were locked in the store on FM 518 at Highway 146 starting around 9 a.m.
According to Kemah P.D. Chief Greg Rikard, officers were dispatched to a suspicious man in a car who had a knife and was wearing a mask.
Witnesses said the man was in a Target parking lot, but his unoccupied vehicle was later found in the Walmart parking lot. Officers waited for the man to return and then confronted him.
Police said they found several “unknown devices” in the man’s pockets and attached to his body around the waist. He was placed in a patrol car while the area was secured and evacuated.
Bomb squads and officers from Texas City, Baytown, La Porte, and Pasadena were called in to assist Kemah police.
As of 1 p.m. the suspect had been stripped down and taken into custody, but customers were still being kept inside and the lockdown was still in place.
Witnesses said employees handed out snacks to everyone in the store, who were kept waiting for nearly five hours.
Police started letting customers leave the store shortly after 2 p.m. when the all-clear was given.

Kemah police later said Mehrzad Malekzadeh, 35, of Sugar Land was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and a hoax bomb.
Both charges are class A misdemeanors. Bond was set at $5,000.

Police transferred the suspect to the Galveston County Jail.

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http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=9509279" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I suspect that the man has psychological problems.
http://freedomfromtorture.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[misterlarry]

Was it a response test?

[WildBill]

http://www.galvestondailynews.com/free/ ... f6878.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RX8er]

I understand not crossing or going in to a police crime scene, but can someone really keep you inside a store on lock down? What would happen if I went out a rear door or found a way to leave a store? I'm sorry, but I think my chances are much better on the outside of a store than on the inside.

[GlockDude26]

I understand not crossing or going in to a police crime scene, but can someone really keep you inside a store on lock down? What would happen if I went out a rear door or found a way to leave a store? I'm sorry, but I think my chances are much better on the outside of a store than on the inside.

this was a duel case of seeing what A. he could scout and report for later and B. what the police could get away with.

[Abraham]

Along with RX8er, I too wonder what would happen if you challenged the police regarding involuntary detention?

I can think of a wide number of reasons one may need to leave well before 5 hours is up...or is our state of affairs such that any hint of terrorism permits public detention wily nily...

[RJGold]

I understand not crossing or going in to a police crime scene, but can someone really keep you inside a store on lock down? What would happen if I went out a rear door or found a way to leave a store? I'm sorry, but I think my chances are much better on the outside of a store than on the inside.

I thought the same thing myself. I understand that the authorities wouldn't have wanted some activities going on in the parking lot (i.e. use of cell phones or other communications devices, starting of vehicles). Some of these activities are considered hazards when explosives could be present.

That said, I think I would have been better off had I been allowed to leave the building through a back door and find another way home. I'm curious if anyone there did challenge the LEOs present and if any were allowed to leave.

Unless everyone in the building was a suspect or witness, I can't see how the detention was legal.

Of course, I am not a lawyer.

[LAYGO]

I too had this discussion with a buddy. On one hand, an employee isn't going to keep me in the building. I think we've had too many instances of "shelter in place" actually being the cause of death or injury (Korean ferry).

On the other hand . . . imagine if it is a live explosive & your car is just few aisles away from the suspect and/or suspect's car? You're not getting to it.

Also, say eventually they did have police at each exit (thinking of the SA taser incident), what is the point an officer can order you to stay put?

[Keith B]

Here is a photo of some of the stuff he had


Sure looks like pipe bombs to me.

As for not releasing you, they possibly could have been able to allow people out of the back of the building, but chances are if the area was cordoned off you would not be able to get back to your vehicle. And if you tried you would be charged with interfering.