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CNN Live Today

Police Comb Woods After Possible Sighting

Aired October 09, 2002 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Up first, of course, this hour on CNN, searching through woods and sifting through clues, authorities are on the hunt for a sniper, and they are combing a wooded area in Fort Washington, Maryland at this hour. They are following up on a tip that was called in by a witness.
Our Patty Davis is very close to that scene, and she joins us by phone from Fort Washington with the latest -- Patty, hello.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Well, Prince George's County Police are investigating that tip. Someone says that they saw a man enter the woods with a long, dark bag here in Fort Washington, Maryland, earlier today.

Police have roped off part of this park with police tape. There are about seven to eight police cars here behind Rose Valley Elementary School where we are, and where that wooded area begins.

Now, that school is in lockdown mode. That's nothing different than it has been doing for the past several days in light of these sniper attacks.

Some police here are in bulletproof vests. Some don't have bulletproof vests. I also saw some more police cars in the nearby neighborhood, the officers talking to neighbors, and in fact, one police car just sped off with lights and siren going. It could be anything. We don't know at all if that is connected or not. Now, one officer says that they are checking this tip out. It's very important to keep getting these leads from the public, officials say, to track this killer down. They're really relying on the public to call things like this in. One neighbor, who lived across from where we are right now, right next to the park said that she is frightened. She was very frightened when she saw the police cars this morning. The sniper, of course, still on the loose. People scared that he might strike their area next -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Patty, earlier this morning we heard from Montgomery County Police Chief Moose very angry with the media and the way that the media as a whole has been covering this story and too many tips and clues getting out. What kind of reception as the media are you getting by being in that area?

DAVIS: That is a good question. The police pretty much don't want to talk to us. They tell us that they do have a public information officer coming, on the way. That is the person that's designated to talk to the press, but they really are indicating they want to go about their job. But this is something that police have to deal with all the time, the press follows them to locations for many different types of events, not only this sniper killing, so police are used to dealing with the press, and in this case, though, it seems that they are getting a little annoyed because the press is getting some leaked information from their own police department. But, you know, we're just doing our jobs there. They're trying to do theirs -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understand the balance, or the balancing act at least. Thank you so much, Patty Davis in Fort Washington.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, authorities are also investigating a strange calling card, if you will, that was found at the scene of Monday's shooting at that Maryland Middle School. Our Jeanne Meserve is following that angle of the story this morning, and she joins us now live from Montgomery County -- good morning, Jeanne. What is the word?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. State, federal, and local officials now tracking down 1,600 credible leads, but are they any closer to catching the sniper? We had an update a short time ago from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: The investigation continues to unfold, and so we cannot say that anything is OK, that we can now come and talk about this, because we're sure that it doesn't have anything to do with it. We just have to continue to let it unfold, and we have to keep all investigative leads and all strategies close to the cuff until we can get further down the road, and absolutely determine that disclosure of that information will have no impact. We clearly are not there today. We're clearly not there right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Chief Moose outraged about revelations that a tarot card was found at the Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Prince George's County, that's where a 13-year-old was gunned down on Monday morning on the way to school. This tarot card, the death card from the deck, and we're told it's inscribed with the words "Dear policeman, I am God." Authorities not sure whether this was left by the shooter, or if, perhaps, it might have been left by some sort of prankster. They're still checking this out.

But this morning, chief Moose scolding the media and the sources of the leak saying this sort of information can compromise the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOSE: I beg of the media, let us do our job. If the community wants you to do it, they will call today and we will have a vote, and if it's decided that Channel 9 is going to investigate this case, then so be it. So be it. I don't think that's going to happen, and I beg my community to make their voices heard, because I am convinced that we're approaching interference, and the interference is unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Chief Moose says that this disclosure has forced his investigators to adjust their course of action, and this is slowing the investigation down. I should add this is a man who clearly knows the benefit of media coverage. We have been having multiple briefings every single day. They acknowledge that tips increase every time he speaks to the cameras, but clearly Chief Moose wants to control exactly what is said -- Daryn, Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: Yes, and Jeanne, we noticed this morning Chief Moose got a bit testy with CNN, quite a bit this morning, and there was some question as to whether or not he's going to be changing his tactics in dealing with the media. Any idea as to whether or not he is going to be pulling back and holding fewer briefings or anything like that?

MESERVE: There's been absolutely no indication there will be fewer briefings. His comments, very angry comments, were made early this morning. We've had a briefing since then. Another couple are scheduled for today, so there is no indication there's any change in the briefing schedule. As I said, this is a man who knows the good things that media coverage can bring to him.

He just wants to be very careful about what is put out there, he wants to approve each and every thing, he doesn't want to have anything interfere with the possibility of catching this individual or the people responsible for this string of attacks that have now killed six and wounded two critically -- back to you.

HARRIS: Sounds like the chief wants just what the residents out there want as well.

Jeanne Meserve in Montgomery County, thank you very much, Jeanne.

We are going to be going back to Montgomery County. We understand there is going to be a press conference at 12:00 noon and, of course, live coverage right here on CNN of that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Right now, want to get some perspective on the daunting task facing law enforcement. Clint Van Zandt is a former FBI profiler with more than 25 years of experience joining us on the phone now. He is in Fredericksburg, Virginia -- Clint, hello.

CLINT VAN ZANDT, FORMER FBI PROFILER: Hi -- thank you.

KAGAN: Clint, you couldn't help but miss Chief Moose's words this morning aimed at people just like you, former law enforcement officials coming on the airwaves and offering your speculation. What would you say to the chief's criticism?

VAN ZANDT: Well, I think we can all understand the frustration he has. I mean, this is a man under a tremendous amount of pressure. When you're a chief of a local department, and all of a sudden you have a case that not only has national but international interests, when you know that lives are on the line every day, and now, when what appears to be a critical piece of information has been provided by, apparently, by somebody on the investigative team to the media, I'm sure the chief -- I mean, in 25 years as an FBI agent, we also like to maintain everything very close to our chest, but I guess the balance is realizing that just doesn't seem to work today. In essence, the media are going to find out things, they are going to share them, and I think that, you know, his department and all of the investigative partners have to do just what they're doing. They have to maintain their focus on this case, and find this person, and I think those of us out there that have experience in these areas, we have to do, I think, what I and others have tried to do, which is to keep our comments generic, not to impact on the case, but to give your listening audience some perspective, so they understand the tremendous and valiant efforts that law enforcement is putting into this to try to find this individual before he strikes again.

KAGAN: We appreciate that. Let's go ahead and call in expertise and as you put those parameters on what you had to say, one of the frustrations for the chief and just law enforcement in general, this killer does not fit a typical profile of somebody who you might expect doing this. He is not what is known as a serial killer.

VAN ZANDT: Well, you know, this is somewhere in between, Daryn, a spree and a serial killer.

KAGAN: Let's talk about how the definition works for each of those. First serial.

VAN ZANDT: Yes. Serial killer, traditionally, we think of the Ted Bundy-type of individual, who will go out, who will commit a murder. There will be an emotional cooling-off period, then he'll go out and commit another homicide, and then another emotional cooling- off period. That period can be days, weeks, even months before he strikes again, whereas a spree killer -- a spree killer is someone, for example, like Andrew Cunanan or others who start on a killing rampage that lasts for a few days. They kill, they kill, they kill again, and there is -- we don't see this emotional cooling-off period in between.

We seem to have somewhat of a combination now. We have someone who is on a spree, whose emotions allow him to maintain this level of activity, but now as we're starting to enter, perhaps, a second week, it is starting to take on a little definition of a serial killer. The bottom line, of course, is that we don't care what we call this person other than a murderer, and we'll deal with all the psycho -- with all psycho mumbo jumbo after we find him. The main responsibility of law enforcement, the media, the public is to contribute to the investigation, and to get this guy or these guys off the street before they strike again.

KAGAN: Just real quickly, I have to ask you, what do you make of the tarot card and the note that was allegedly left behind at the school site?

VAN ZANDT: Well, again, the challenge for law enforcement is, is this something that a child may have left there to compromise the investigation? Is this the killer parodying what he has heard people say on TV, that, in fact, he appears to be playing God? Is he sending us a message? Does he believe this, and if it is so, what does that suggest about his psychological state. These are the challenges for law enforcement to figure out right now.

KAGAN: Clint Van Zandt, thanks for your time once again.

VAN ZANDT: Thank you.

KAGAN: We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 9, 2002 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Up first, of course, this hour on CNN, searching through woods and sifting through clues, authorities are on the hunt for a sniper, and they are combing a wooded area in Fort Washington, Maryland at this hour. They are following up on a tip that was called in by a witness.
Our Patty Davis is very close to that scene, and she joins us by phone from Fort Washington with the latest -- Patty, hello.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Well, Prince George's County Police are investigating that tip. Someone says that they saw a man enter the woods with a long, dark bag here in Fort Washington, Maryland, earlier today.

Police have roped off part of this park with police tape. There are about seven to eight police cars here behind Rose Valley Elementary School where we are, and where that wooded area begins.

Now, that school is in lockdown mode. That's nothing different than it has been doing for the past several days in light of these sniper attacks.

Some police here are in bulletproof vests. Some don't have bulletproof vests. I also saw some more police cars in the nearby neighborhood, the officers talking to neighbors, and in fact, one police car just sped off with lights and siren going. It could be anything. We don't know at all if that is connected or not. Now, one officer says that they are checking this tip out. It's very important to keep getting these leads from the public, officials say, to track this killer down. They're really relying on the public to call things like this in. One neighbor, who lived across from where we are right now, right next to the park said that she is frightened. She was very frightened when she saw the police cars this morning. The sniper, of course, still on the loose. People scared that he might strike their area next -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Patty, earlier this morning we heard from Montgomery County Police Chief Moose very angry with the media and the way that the media as a whole has been covering this story and too many tips and clues getting out. What kind of reception as the media are you getting by being in that area?

DAVIS: That is a good question. The police pretty much don't want to talk to us. They tell us that they do have a public information officer coming, on the way. That is the person that's designated to talk to the press, but they really are indicating they want to go about their job. But this is something that police have to deal with all the time, the press follows them to locations for many different types of events, not only this sniper killing, so police are used to dealing with the press, and in this case, though, it seems that they are getting a little annoyed because the press is getting some leaked information from their own police department. But, you know, we're just doing our jobs there. They're trying to do theirs -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Understand the balance, or the balancing act at least. Thank you so much, Patty Davis in Fort Washington.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, authorities are also investigating a strange calling card, if you will, that was found at the scene of Monday's shooting at that Maryland Middle School. Our Jeanne Meserve is following that angle of the story this morning, and she joins us now live from Montgomery County -- good morning, Jeanne. What is the word?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. State, federal, and local officials now tracking down 1,600 credible leads, but are they any closer to catching the sniper? We had an update a short time ago from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CHARLES MOOSE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE: The investigation continues to unfold, and so we cannot say that anything is OK, that we can now come and talk about this, because we're sure that it doesn't have anything to do with it. We just have to continue to let it unfold, and we have to keep all investigative leads and all strategies close to the cuff until we can get further down the road, and absolutely determine that disclosure of that information will have no impact. We clearly are not there today. We're clearly not there right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Chief Moose outraged about revelations that a tarot card was found at the Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Prince George's County, that's where a 13-year-old was gunned down on Monday morning on the way to school. This tarot card, the death card from the deck, and we're told it's inscribed with the words "Dear policeman, I am God." Authorities not sure whether this was left by the shooter, or if, perhaps, it might have been left by some sort of prankster. They're still checking this out.

But this morning, chief Moose scolding the media and the sources of the leak saying this sort of information can compromise the investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOOSE: I beg of the media, let us do our job. If the community wants you to do it, they will call today and we will have a vote, and if it's decided that Channel 9 is going to investigate this case, then so be it. So be it. I don't think that's going to happen, and I beg my community to make their voices heard, because I am convinced that we're approaching interference, and the interference is unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Chief Moose says that this disclosure has forced his investigators to adjust their course of action, and this is slowing the investigation down. I should add this is a man who clearly knows the benefit of media coverage. We have been having multiple briefings every single day. They acknowledge that tips increase every time he speaks to the cameras, but clearly Chief Moose wants to control exactly what is said -- Daryn, Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: Yes, and Jeanne, we noticed this morning Chief Moose got a bit testy with CNN, quite a bit this morning, and there was some question as to whether or not he's going to be changing his tactics in dealing with the media. Any idea as to whether or not he is going to be pulling back and holding fewer briefings or anything like that?

MESERVE: There's been absolutely no indication there will be fewer briefings. His comments, very angry comments, were made early this morning. We've had a briefing since then. Another couple are scheduled for today, so there is no indication there's any change in the briefing schedule. As I said, this is a man who knows the good things that media coverage can bring to him.

He just wants to be very careful about what is put out there, he wants to approve each and every thing, he doesn't want to have anything interfere with the possibility of catching this individual or the people responsible for this string of attacks that have now killed six and wounded two critically -- back to you.

HARRIS: Sounds like the chief wants just what the residents out there want as well.

Jeanne Meserve in Montgomery County, thank you very much, Jeanne.

We are going to be going back to Montgomery County. We understand there is going to be a press conference at 12:00 noon and, of course, live coverage right here on CNN of that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Right now, want to get some perspective on the daunting task facing law enforcement. Clint Van Zandt is a former FBI profiler with more than 25 years of experience joining us on the phone now. He is in Fredericksburg, Virginia -- Clint, hello.

CLINT VAN ZANDT, FORMER FBI PROFILER: Hi -- thank you.

KAGAN: Clint, you couldn't help but miss Chief Moose's words this morning aimed at people just like you, former law enforcement officials coming on the airwaves and offering your speculation. What would you say to the chief's criticism?

VAN ZANDT: Well, I think we can all understand the frustration he has. I mean, this is a man under a tremendous amount of pressure. When you're a chief of a local department, and all of a sudden you have a case that not only has national but international interests, when you know that lives are on the line every day, and now, when what appears to be a critical piece of information has been provided by, apparently, by somebody on the investigative team to the media, I'm sure the chief -- I mean, in 25 years as an FBI agent, we also like to maintain everything very close to our chest, but I guess the balance is realizing that just doesn't seem to work today. In essence, the media are going to find out things, they are going to share them, and I think that, you know, his department and all of the investigative partners have to do just what they're doing. They have to maintain their focus on this case, and find this person, and I think those of us out there that have experience in these areas, we have to do, I think, what I and others have tried to do, which is to keep our comments generic, not to impact on the case, but to give your listening audience some perspective, so they understand the tremendous and valiant efforts that law enforcement is putting into this to try to find this individual before he strikes again.

KAGAN: We appreciate that. Let's go ahead and call in expertise and as you put those parameters on what you had to say, one of the frustrations for the chief and just law enforcement in general, this killer does not fit a typical profile of somebody who you might expect doing this. He is not what is known as a serial killer.

VAN ZANDT: Well, you know, this is somewhere in between, Daryn, a spree and a serial killer.

KAGAN: Let's talk about how the definition works for each of those. First serial.

VAN ZANDT: Yes. Serial killer, traditionally, we think of the Ted Bundy-type of individual, who will go out, who will commit a murder. There will be an emotional cooling-off period, then he'll go out and commit another homicide, and then another emotional cooling- off period. That period can be days, weeks, even months before he strikes again, whereas a spree killer -- a spree killer is someone, for example, like Andrew Cunanan or others who start on a killing rampage that lasts for a few days. They kill, they kill, they kill again, and there is -- we don't see this emotional cooling-off period in between.

We seem to have somewhat of a combination now. We have someone who is on a spree, whose emotions allow him to maintain this level of activity, but now as we're starting to enter, perhaps, a second week, it is starting to take on a little definition of a serial killer. The bottom line, of course, is that we don't care what we call this person other than a murderer, and we'll deal with all the psycho -- with all psycho mumbo jumbo after we find him. The main responsibility of law enforcement, the media, the public is to contribute to the investigation, and to get this guy or these guys off the street before they strike again.

KAGAN: Just real quickly, I have to ask you, what do you make of the tarot card and the note that was allegedly left behind at the school site?

VAN ZANDT: Well, again, the challenge for law enforcement is, is this something that a child may have left there to compromise the investigation? Is this the killer parodying what he has heard people say on TV, that, in fact, he appears to be playing God? Is he sending us a message? Does he believe this, and if it is so, what does that suggest about his psychological state. These are the challenges for law enforcement to figure out right now.

KAGAN: Clint Van Zandt, thanks for your time once again.

VAN ZANDT: Thank you.

KAGAN: We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com