A gunman takes a lawyer hostage and demands that a judge resign. She pretends, and the man is arrested.
By Associated Press
Published August 5, 2004
JACKSONVILLE - A judge pretended to resign on live television Wednesday to end a standoff in which a man with a gun and claiming he had a bomb held an attorney hostage in a high-rise office suite, authorities said.
As local television station crews were gathered outside the building, covering the incident live, Duval County Judge Sharon Tanner stepped in front of a camera and said she was resigning.
Authorities said the gunman demanded Tanner's resignation because he was not pleased with the outcome of a domestic case he had had before the judge.
The attorney, Christopher Hazelip, was freed unharmed, and the gunman, John Matthew Knight, 45, surrendered shortly after the bogus resignation, said John Bowen, chief of homeland security for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The incident began when Mayor John Peyton received a call at a City Hall retreat about 11:30 a.m. The caller said he was holding an attorney hostage at Riverplace Tower, a 28-story downtown office building, and had a bomb.
Sheriff's officials later said the man did not have a bomb in his possession, but did have a loaded 9mm pistol.
While talking with the man, Peyton was able to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Peyton was able to keep the man on the telephone for about 45 minutes, while police converged on the high-rise and evacuated hundreds of workers and 45 children in a day care center.
One of the man's demands to Peyton was that Tanner resign on live television.
"He gave a timeline of 90 minutes for this to occur or he would detonate his bomb," Bowen said.
Tanner walked up to a TV reporter near the high-rise and said on camera she was resigning immediately, without giving any explanation.
Authorities didn't explain the reason for her televised comments until the incident was over. Tanner's office confirmed the ruse but said the judge had no further comment.
Knight told police "he knew she was not really going to resign," Bowen said - he just wanted to get his message out.
Police said Knight has no prior criminal record. He was still being questioned Wednesday night at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Knight, who was wearing a business suit, entered the office building by presenting a false identification card to a security guard.
He went to the 13th floor, where he entered a law firm's offices and seized Hazelip. Police said they think he chose the firm randomly. The released hostage, Hazelip, called at his home, refused to comment.
Riverplace Tower, which is owned by Gate Petroleum Co., has a variety of legal and professional offices. Peyton's family owns Gate.
