Snake Valley makes the News - for all the wrong reasons!

[ballaratdragons]

There is currently 50 cops and one lunatic involved in a Siege here in our quiet little country town of Snake Valley! :eyepop:

The sky is full of helicopters and all our streets are shut. The Siege is in my street about 1k up towards where we hold our Astro Camp (for those that know the area).
Started about 9pm last night. Atleast they have gotten the Women and kids out of the house today.
But the twit with the gun is still holding cops off with his gun. :screwy:

HERE: http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/man-in-snake-valley-siege/2194206.aspx

Even the country has it's gun-toting loonies :rolleyes:

[asimov]

It'll be interesting to see if he's under the influence of anything or not..

[jenchris]

why not just give up?

[AstralTraveller]

At least he avoided an observing night. You'd be spittin' if they closed the road on the first clear-moonless night in months.

[DavidU]

Nasty stuff Ken

[erick]

I hope the negotiators get a good outcome.

[ballaratdragons]

Unfortunately it appears it might be Ed, a friend of ours.
They aren't giving any names out yet but the photos online are of his house. :sadeyes:
http://www.thecourier.com.au/multimedia/24640/snake-valley-siege.aspx

[Paddy]

As you say Ken, it's good that the woman and kids are out.

[adman]

how distressing - lets hope it works out well for all involved

Adam

[ballaratdragons]

Bugger bugger damn damn

It was just on TV news. It appears it is our friend Ed, and his wife Janelle and 3 of their kids!
They showed their house and said that he is still in there by himself heavily armed (yes, Ed does own a lot of rifles).
He has held Police off for 21 hours now. He must be getting tired which means he may start making mistakes and either shoot someone, himself, or get shot.

This is a real pain coz he is only 1k away and I can't do anything to help. The area around the house has been closed and no-one can get in or out!

Cheryl (my missus) is really stressed out as Janelle is her good friend. The Police have taken her and the kids away somewhere.

Give up ED!!!!!!! Please mate.

[renormalised]

What's sent him over the edge??? This sounds like it's been brewing for quite some time and he's just finally snapped.

They need some gas to knock him out, then they can grab him and nothing bad happens. Otherwise he mightn't last the day.

[jjjnettie]

How very distressing for all of you. I hope for every ones sake that reason and sense will prevail.

[spacezebra]

Stay safe Ken

Cheers Petra d.

[ballaratdragons]

I won't go into their private life too much but to give you an idea:

Ed moved here from Missisippee USA after meeting Janelle about 12 years ago while she was on holiday over there. They married and had 3 girls.
Ed has struggled with all sorts of strange illnesses since moving to Oz and has been missing his own family in USA, but not being able to afford to visit them.
Two years ago after finally getting over a bout of some illness (like a severe flu) and with no other illnesses for a change Ed started to cheer up, but while I was at his house he was bitten on the knee by a white-tail spider and that night ended up in hospital. The reaction and damage to his knee was so bad that they were considering amputating his leg, but saved it. He was unable to walk for months.
He has had a limp since then and hasn't quite felt 100%.

Then 2 years ago he was getting weaker and weaker then diagnosed with Cancer. Him and Janelle also split up last year.
Then only a few months ago he had brain surgery to remove a Tumour and has never felt well since.

I reckon he has finally snapped. This has happened last night while Janelle has been there letting the girls visit him.

Normally, Ed is a very quiet gentle friendly man who would bend over backwards to help you if you needed it.

Nuff said. :sadeyes:

[renormalised]

The police should get in contact with his family in the US and bring some of them out. They may be able to help him out. That's what I'd do before I did anything else. Otherwise he may do something silly and have a cop shoot him out of a knee jerk reaction. Better to have him hold up there knowing family were going to come out and look after him than to go in with guns blazing acting all macho and having the whole thing go completely pear shaped. At least then they could keep an eye on him and make sure he was OK.

[ballaratdragons]

Yes Carl, he needs to know his family
is near him. He is a big 'family' man.

But I doubt they would have time to get here.
1. It is a long flight from USA and he may not make it much longer (as hard as that is to say)
2. Planes can't land in Victoria anyway coz of the ash.

I have to face the horrible truth that this isn't going to end well at all for my friend. I know what he has done is terrible, but I feel sad, not angry.

[mill]

Just seen it on the news.
I just hope it all turns out well without any problems.

[renormalised]

They maybe a long way away, but there'd be no harm in trying to get them out here as fast as they could. Get them to ring him and keep him from doing anything silly and to let him know that at least some of them were on their way out. If the planes can't land in Melbourne, then fly them by chopper from Sydney or Canberra. They can get them there if they have to.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I will definately be sending good thoughts your way!
The cops here are amoung the most twitchy and trigger-happy I've ever seen. People have been shot for wielding a knife 20 feet away!
I 've disarmed armed drunks and crackpots wielding guns/knives/8 Irons etc., with nothing more than a soda siphon or a fire extinguisher. Lets pray that someone with patience, an understanding of an stressed mental state and a slow finger takes control.

[ballaratdragons]

Just found out that the 'other' woman that was held hostage with Janelle and Ed's 3 daughters is Janelle's eldest daughter Shaylee, who is also my 2 sons close friend. They said she wasn't at school today. We now know why.
She loves Ed like a real Dad. He is such a great father to all his kids.
He would not normally scare his kids the way he has now.
Even my boys feel close to him.

They too are stressing now that they have found out about this.

Something has severely gone wrong.

2 days ago he was his usual smily self.

[adman]

now that sounds like a good story! Care to share?

[Hagar]

:rofl:You will never learn Ken. If you want to win you have to keep a hostage. Letting them all go will not let you bargain for a couple of hours on hubble, even with a shotgun. You need ammo to.:rofl::help::question::mad2::sad eyes::(

[DavidU]

Ken sorry for making light of a serious situation. I didn't realise he was a friend.

[renormalised]

Ken, if he's had brain surgery for a tumor, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't really know what he's doing. This might be a psychotic episode brought about by the surgery. Something may have gone wrong physically with him of late and it's only starting to kick in now. Or he's found out something about his present condition which might be related to that surgery and the cancer. I hope the cops know about all this, it might make them think about how to approach this (or then again, knowing them probably not).

[ballaratdragons]

Carl, his wife would have told them all his drama's.

The local cop also knows him and about his struggles.
The news has said that he has been on the phone constantly talking with Police and that he is getting very tired.

If they can wait him out he will collapse from Sleep deprivation, then they can get him out without a shot being fired.

I am glad to say that I haven't heard any shots fired so far. I hope it stays that way.


Thanks Davo.

[danielsun]

I seen it on the news. Geez Ken, this is a terrible situation. I really hope this doesn't end badly.

[byronpaul]

Ken,

my thoughts are with you and the boys.

Hope everything ends up well!!!!!

Regards,
Paul

[renormalised]

Let's hope he does fall asleep, Ken, and doesn't become delirious instead. Then anything could happen!!!. Better still, let's hope he's that tired he just gives up.

Hope your own family is alright...keeps the kids safe.

[shelltree]

Really sorry to hear this, Ken. I hope that things turn out okay! Take care

[barx1963]

Ken
Stay safe, I know all the members of IIS and the regulars at SV are thinking of you and your family. Hoping your freind gets out of his situation safely. We had a similar situation about a year ago with a fella across the road. We didn't know him, luckily his kids and ex made it out OK but he didn't. Most of these drama end peacefully though and hope he get the help he needs.

Malcolm

[dugnsuz]

Hope this turns out well Ken and the guy gets some help.
Cheers
Doug

[oosh]

Ken, all the best to you and your family and your mate Ed too, hope things turn out ok in the end.

[Jen]

:eyepop: wow sounds like he has had a rough time of late Ken :( hope things turn out ok (hugs)

Any updates on whats happening :question:

[ballaratdragons]

I have just heard about 5 rapid gunshots

I hope it is just another neighbour popping off foxes

[Jen]

:eyepop: oh dear that dosnt sound good

[ballaratdragons]

Jen, we hear gunshots almost every night here. Usually Foxes but sometimes Rabbits.
But not usually 5 rapid, in a row.

This feels very surreal. I am sitting here while just 1k away a friend may be about to die, or be arrested, is going through hell, has put his family through hell, and yet I just sit here.
I know I can't do anything but it just doesn't feel right.
I feel quite nauseated and sad.
Even Cheryl said it feels really weird just sitting here in our nice warm loungeroom while all this is going on with Ed up the road.

[JohnG]

Hope it works out OK, Ken, been through a number of these as you well know, not easy.

Cheers

[renormalised]

Nothing you can do, Ken.

[ballaratdragons]

Ed is still holed up in his house.

Last report came in after midnight (just under 1 hour ago)
Melbourne based special squads have taken over.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/snake-valley-siege-police-surround-house/2195358.aspx

5 more police vehicles have also just turned up in the last 5 minutes.

EDIT: I have just been out the front again to see what all the commotion is. There are lots of cars about! This town only gets about 2 or 3 cars per night.
I have been watching and they are all Police cars driving all around the town. Lots of them. Not coming or leaving, just driving around and around :shrug:

[ballaratdragons]

I think something has gone wrong. I was just outside watching the police cars driving around when all of a sudden gunfire broke out (about 2am). This time about 30-40 rapid shots from several guns!
I yelled at Cheryl that something has happened and she came outside in time to hear another volley of about 20 shots.

We waited, then about 3 minutes later another rapid 10-15 shots, then another 2 minutes and another 10 or so rapid shots.

All this gunfire came from the direction of Ed's house.

This doesn't sound good

[bartman]

Sorry to hear about this Ken,
Those gunshots dont sound to good. Maybe he slipped out and tried to make a run for it????
Have the cops cars stop circling?
You and Cheryl take care.....
Bartman

[ballaratdragons]

UPDATE

Ed was arrested at 12:30am after his 27 hour siege.
I am glad no-one was shot.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/captives-out-but-standoff-goes-on-at-snake-valley-property/story-fn7x8me2-1226075256602

But what was the display of massive gunfire at 2am for?
Special Forces letting off steam? :screwy:

Now to start the healing process for his family. :sadeyes:

Phew, I am so glad the siege is over!
Yes Bart, all the cars have gone now. They all seemed to have left only about 15 mins ago (2:45am).

Thanks everyone for your comments.

[renormalised]

All that rapid gunfire so late after Ed was arrested....that was probably all those cops having a go at the rabbits and foxes:):P

[niko]

Ken,

I'm really sorry to hear about all those dramas. Poor guy, what torment he must be going through.

I know that you and your family will be terrific support to his family as they rebuild from such an awful night. You and Cheryl and the kids are terrific people and they will need friends like you in the coming months.

Take care of yourselves too and this'll be a huge shock to the community.

cheers

niko

[Cloudyagain]

Sorry to hear of your friend and his family Ken.

I hope all returns to normal for everyone ASAP.

Neale.

[Paddy]

Ken, I'm glad to hear that your friend and his family are all safe. Hopefully everyone gets some good professional help to heal. I know that having a someone like you as a friend will make a huge difference.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks everyone.

The good news is that they haven't thrown the book at Ed or treated him like some Waco Texas lunatic.

He was talked out by some mates (I haven't found out who yet), the Police handled him like a victim not a perpetrator, he was taken to the police station to get some sleep then after that taken for Physchiatric help.

The Police are saying that he may not even be charged for anything yet.
Whichever way this goes, Ed will receive help.
His family is surrounded by friends ready to help. Yes, me and my family included.
And the kids have terrific supportive friends at school. There are 5 of them. The 2 High School kids weren't at the house during all this.

This has been the best outcome of a very bad situation.

[renormalised]

Thankfully, everything looks like it's going to turn out alright. From what you've said, Ken, it looks like they're going to go light on him and so they should. The man needs help more than anything else and they should go out of their way to give him the help he needs. That may also mean flying out family from the US, or at least have them fly out themselves to stay with him for awhile. With your help and the help of the rest of his friends, I think things will progressively get better.

[Paddy]

That is very good news, Ken. Sounds like he will be helped. And being treated thoughtfully and with compassion by the police is a very good start.

[Chillie]

Thanks for the update Ken. I have been listening to it unfolding on the scanner (police frequency) and know it was a big operation.

I heard he gave up on the news.

BTW I have 2 scanners going in the background now listening to the police.

[toc]

:eyepop: Wow, I saw this on the news and had to do a double take when I heard 'Snake Valley'. So glad it worked out the way it did. Hope he gets all the help he needs. :thumbsup: