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This evening I tuned in to hear the latest news conference on the search for Suspect 2 in the Boston Marathon bombing. Essentially the search was fruitless and they were allowing people to go back into the streets and removing the lock down. Within a half hour, shots were reported fired and I tuned back in to live feeds. As the area was locked down, through reporters that ran to the area, we learned that the suspect was possibly found hiding in a backyard. Over the next little while, it was revealed he was hiding in a boat at 67 Franklin Street in Watertown, MA. I pulled up a live feed from foxnews online, flipped between CNN, NBC, Fox, and MSNBC on the tv, and had CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Drudgereport, and a couple Boston news outlets I was monitoring online. Foxnews had a reporter near the scene reporting developments. CNN had a reporter there too, but he was behind on info and his phone kept cutting out. As we waited, we learned a lot. Suspect 2 was injured from last night's shootout. Suspect 1 was actually questioned, I believe last year, at the request of another country's government.
The news was not giving me much, so I pulled up the Boston police scanner online and began to listen in. I heard FBI officers directing local police to areas around the inner perimeter. It was interesting to hear how the cops spoke to the FBI. It was obvious the FBI were the superiors there, with lots of "sirs" in the responses by the locals. Here is what I heard:
The FBI directed some officers to Franklin Street, but were unable to get there and met up with an agent at Birch and Walnut.
Agents requested shields from anyone who knew where anymore were. One officer responded there was one in the bearcat (click HERE for a pic of a bearcat).
My sister and I were listening together and talking via facebook. We could tell they were about to move in on the suspect because after moving cops around and asking for shields for the agents near the house, we heard some media had set up on a roof nearby. Officers were dispatched to remove them, but then a higher up said to stand down because they might be making another move on the boat and didn't want to distract from it. The next thing we heard confirmed my suspicions that action was near. The FBI got on and asked the CP (command post) to make sure all officers held their current positions and no one moved. Immediately following that order, CP told all officers to stay away from the scene and that the scene was "HRT only, repeat, HRT only". Straight from the FBI site: The TS/HRT is the United States Government's counter terrorism tactical unit as outlined by US code and national policy. More on them HERE. Very shortly after CP said the scene was HRT only, my sister and I concluded they were definitely moving in. Sure enough, all of a sudden, we heard over the scanner "suspect in custody". Immediately following they called for medics. Over a minute later, foxnews reported that applause was making its way down the street and then CNN said the same and said they confirmed the suspect in the boat was in custody. Later, we saw the video taken of the escorted ambulance carrying Suspect 2 to the hospital.
Listening to the police scanner and following it live was almost as if we were there. I had maps pulled up and could envision where officers were based on both news and the scanner. It was a serious thrill.
Other things heard on the scanner:
Before the suspect was caught:
- A suspicious bag was in front of a house on another street and a team was sent to clear it.
A few minutes after the suspect was in custody, dispatch got on the radio to all Boston-area police officers informing them that the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing was in custody.
After the suspect was caught:
- Officers who received a shotgun from a certain spot were directed to a location to return it.
- Police choppers on the scene had landed and took back off to return to the scene for a new mission.
- Units were cleared from certain areas, but the outside perimeter was being held.
- Several congratulations came over the radio, several congratulating the CP, and other general ones including the following direct quotes:
The last thing I listened to, and perhaps one of the moist poignant moments of the night was an officer who asked that all officers say a prayer for fallen MIT officer Sean Collier, and for a speedy recovery of injured transit authority officer Richard Donohue. "Absolutely, God bless" came the response.
The news was not giving me much, so I pulled up the Boston police scanner online and began to listen in. I heard FBI officers directing local police to areas around the inner perimeter. It was interesting to hear how the cops spoke to the FBI. It was obvious the FBI were the superiors there, with lots of "sirs" in the responses by the locals. Here is what I heard:
The FBI directed some officers to Franklin Street, but were unable to get there and met up with an agent at Birch and Walnut.
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| The house where Suspect #2 was holed up. You can see the boat trailer in this photo. Other map sites show a winter photo and you can see the boat itself. |
Agents requested shields from anyone who knew where anymore were. One officer responded there was one in the bearcat (click HERE for a pic of a bearcat).
My sister and I were listening together and talking via facebook. We could tell they were about to move in on the suspect because after moving cops around and asking for shields for the agents near the house, we heard some media had set up on a roof nearby. Officers were dispatched to remove them, but then a higher up said to stand down because they might be making another move on the boat and didn't want to distract from it. The next thing we heard confirmed my suspicions that action was near. The FBI got on and asked the CP (command post) to make sure all officers held their current positions and no one moved. Immediately following that order, CP told all officers to stay away from the scene and that the scene was "HRT only, repeat, HRT only". Straight from the FBI site: The TS/HRT is the United States Government's counter terrorism tactical unit as outlined by US code and national policy. More on them HERE. Very shortly after CP said the scene was HRT only, my sister and I concluded they were definitely moving in. Sure enough, all of a sudden, we heard over the scanner "suspect in custody". Immediately following they called for medics. Over a minute later, foxnews reported that applause was making its way down the street and then CNN said the same and said they confirmed the suspect in the boat was in custody. Later, we saw the video taken of the escorted ambulance carrying Suspect 2 to the hospital.
Listening to the police scanner and following it live was almost as if we were there. I had maps pulled up and could envision where officers were based on both news and the scanner. It was a serious thrill.
Other things heard on the scanner:
Before the suspect was caught:
- A suspicious bag was in front of a house on another street and a team was sent to clear it.
A few minutes after the suspect was in custody, dispatch got on the radio to all Boston-area police officers informing them that the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing was in custody.
After the suspect was caught:
- Officers who received a shotgun from a certain spot were directed to a location to return it.
- Police choppers on the scene had landed and took back off to return to the scene for a new mission.
- Units were cleared from certain areas, but the outside perimeter was being held.
- Several congratulations came over the radio, several congratulating the CP, and other general ones including the following direct quotes:
"Way to go Yankee Team 3!"I kept listening for a good half hour or more after the suspect was in custody. Residents of Birch Street were allowed to return home. The weather got bad and a helicopter returned to Lawrence. Light towers from the perimeter were moved to 67 Franklin. Most of Franklin Street remained locked down.
"God bless you all"
"High fives to everyone"
"Boston strong!"
The last thing I listened to, and perhaps one of the moist poignant moments of the night was an officer who asked that all officers say a prayer for fallen MIT officer Sean Collier, and for a speedy recovery of injured transit authority officer Richard Donohue. "Absolutely, God bless" came the response.
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