…. No! Really!
The NYPost reports – and I have verified through a NYPD source that this is for real – a guy with gas cans walked into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown Manhattan today and got his crazy ass arrested by NY’s finest.
No, the gas cans were not empty and he wasn’t looking for gas for his lawn mower. Presumably, there was gas in the gas cans. The photos suggests also bottles of bbq fire starter and lighters. HERE
Story HERE
There is a 24/7 NYPD post at St. Pat’s.
My 24/7 kudos to the NYPD. And I think they just had a new class of officers sworn in today. Congratulations!
I hope that every priest or layman working for every church and chancery out there will bring up discussion of an “action plan” in the case of arson.
- Where do you go?
- What do you get out?
- What’s your fire plan?
- Have you spoken with the Fire Department?
It’s always someone else… until it’s not.
Semper paratus.
UPDATE
Around 7:55pm, a man walked into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan with gas cans and lighter fluid, and was subsequently apprehended by @NYPDCT without incident. We thank our partners for their help, and remember – if you see something, say something. pic.twitter.com/qEbmklnqzQ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 18, 2019
I have such a burning desire to let off a string of puns…
Glad to hear the usher/greeters and NYPD were on the ball. He certainly wasn’t there to use the restroom.
It will be interesting story to follow as backtrack him and figure out where he came from (with the gas cans – it’s not as if there’s a gas station around the corner (and there are security cameras all around, these days))
Shameless plug alert!
A friend of mine, Loren Coleman, who was a sociology professor, wrote a book; “The Copycat Effect: How the Media and Popular Culture Trigger the Mayhem in Tomorrow’s Headlines“. You can get it on Amazon via Fr Z’s link!
The attacks may be escalating soon. An Orthodox monk, abbot of his monastery in Washington state, was pumping gas yesterday when he was sucker-punched by a stranger. Our churches are vulnerable; all who wear the cassock are vulnerable as well. Lord, have mercy.
“…got his crazy ass arrested.” I think this is the first time I have ever seen this phrase, in this blog, and I laughed out loud–REALLY loud. I even startled the rectory German Shepherd.
I read at LifeSite News today that 3 days before this man showed up at St. Patrick’s, he was arrested for trespassing at Newark’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was also reported that he had a one-way ticket to Rome and was scheduled to leave today. Thank God he was arrested before he hurt anyone.