The day started out like any other. The weather was finally cooperating. The sun was bright, the air was crisp. For the most part, it was a pretty unassuming day, reminiscent of that September morning in 2001 before the gates of Hell opened upon an unsuspecting world. You may think that I’m being overly dramatic, but in many ways March 22nd, 2005 could be considered our September 11th.
March 22, 2005-10:00am:
A majority of staff is catching up on paperwork due to the fact that JKRC students were returning late after an extended weekend.
March 22, 2005-10:45am: I had just returned to the JKRC after a brief meeting in town. After settling into my office, I was informed that hordes of police officers were surrounding the building across the street from the JKRC. Being the investigative reporter that I am, I sprang to my feet in order to get a look at the unfolding drama that was taking place before my eyes.
Unfortunately, the main floor of the JKRC has very large windows. While being great to look through, they don’t offer much protection against a stray bullet in case the situation got hot. I decided to retreat to the third floor in order to gain a better vantage point. I had achieved the perfect view of the situation. I could see everything! At this point no one was sure of what exactly was occurring.
March 22, 2005-11:05am: The New Brunswick Police Department sends a couple of marksmen to the very room from which I was watching. We were quickly instructed to “stay away from all windows.” I complied and went back to my basement office (the safest place in the building) and resumed work. I would check occasionally on the situation upstairs, but it was basically a normal day for me. I checked the news outlets to try to monitor what was going on. The news reported that a fourteen year old girl was abducted and being assaulted by two men. The story also reported that the girl was being held at gunpoint and if any police came, that she would be killed.
As the day went on, more reports came and the story varied with each version of the situation that was released. I decided to just wait it out until the whole story was out before jumping to any conclusions.
March 22, 2002-2:05pm: As the situation dragged on, I became concerned (along with everyone else ) that we may not be able to get home. I spoke with one of the officers and asked him about the possibility of getting home. He informed me that an officer would be able to escort any persons wishing to leave the building along a safe route. “Great!” I thought…but that opened up another problem. I use Access Link to get back and forth to work. “Would they be able to get me?” After making a couple of quick, frantic calls to Access Link , I was half-heartedly assured that they would be able to get me and others who were waiting to leave the JKRC.
March 22, 2005-2:35pm: The crisis continues. People are getting antsy because there isn’t any indication that this thing is going to end soon. I have already packed my belongings and have made alternate plans in case Access Link can’t pick me up. I had just shut off my computer when I was paged over the PA system to report upstairs because my transportation was here to get me. “Freedom!!” I thought. Patrick, the JKRC chef burst into my office in a frantic manner. Livingston Ave. (the main street in New Brunswick) had been shut down for hours and was wreaking havoc on surrounding traffic. So, when Access Link picked me up on the adjacent street, it was further blocking traffic, complicating matters for the police. Patrick led me through the winding maze towards the kitchen door (which led to the next street away from the standoff). The way I was led through the halls on the way to my salvation I couldn’t help but think of Harriet Tubman leading runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad to freedom or even the evacuation of the American Embassy during the Vietnam War. Yes, I realize my mind travels in strange circles during times of crisis, but what can I say? I’m an artist!!
March 22, 2005-3:35pm:
Home at last! I quickly flick through the news channels to see what is
happening, but nothing new has developed since I “escaped.”
March 22, 2005-5:15pm: Crisis over! The six hour standoff is finally over. Three people were taken into custody (two men and a girl, who appeared to be laughing as they were being taken away). I thought that was a little peculiar but really didn’t care too much after that. It turns out that the whole “hostage” situation was a hoax! A game, to see how many police would come out on a bogus emergency! Since the “hostage crisis,” a few people have been arrested in connection with this case (including a New Jersey man and a Texas woman). Personally, I say if they want a hostage situation…leave me in a room with them for about an hour or so!
Picture of
JKRC student Michael Haymon
pointing out the site of the
New Brunswick "hostage situation"
