D.C. Police, Tractor Driver in Standoff

[jeani]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TRACTOR_INCIDENT?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT   Mar 18, 11:00 AM EST D.C. Police, Tractor Driver in Standoff By DERRILL HOLLY WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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, the Interior Department and the Federal Reserve are located inside the security zone. The State Department headquarters is also nearby.