"For many motorists frustration was boiling over with
some giving up and leaving buses to walk to work.

Nebiye Solom, who manages a downtown parking garage,
said his customers have been complaining that their
30-minute commutes have turned into two-tour
nightmares."


D.C. Police, Tractor Driver in Standoff
2 hours, 7 minutes ago

By DERRILL HOLLY

WASHINGTON - A North Carolina tobacco farmer remained
inside his tractor Tuesday morning in a small lake
nestled among some of America's best known symbols.
The standoff caused police to close streets blocks
from the scene snarling the city's morning rush hour.

"We're looking at every possible option, to make sure
this comes to a peaceful resolution," said Sgt. Scott
Fear, a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police.

The incident began around noon Monday when a man
wearing a military medic's helmet drove a jeep and
trailer carrying the tractor and a motorcycle into
Constitution Gardens, a federal park bordered by the
Washington Monument, the Vietnam War Memorial and the
Lincoln Memorial. After driving the jeep into the
lake, the man drove the tractor off the trailer and
into the water.

"We're going to be patient with him and we're going to
make sure that human life and safety is number one,"
Fear said. Officials said the uncertainty of the
situation presents both safety and facilities
concerns. They declined to specify his demands.

The man was identified as Dwight Watson, 50, of
Whitakers, N.C.

Shortly after the incident began, police established a
400 yard security perimeter around the site. The
decision snarled downtown traffic for commuters Monday
evening and again Tuesday morning, as vehicles were
restricted over a much broader area.

For many motorists frustration was boiling over with
some giving up and leaving buses to walk to work.

Nebiye Solom, who manages a downtown parking garage,
said his customers have been complaining that their
30-minute commutes have turned into two-tour
nightmares.

Tactical officers armed with automatic weapons, bomb
squad technicians and fire department hazardous
materials specialists were among the more than 100
public safety personnel involved in the incident.

The location has also hampered access to several
federal and independent agencies. Offices of the
National Academy of Sciences (news - web sites), the
Interior Department and the Federal Reserve (news -
web sites) are located inside the security zone. The
State Department headquarters is also nearby.

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