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Four Miami Officers Shot; Tropical Storm Humberto; President Bush to Address Nation on Iraq Strategy; Indonesia Quake

Aired September 13, 2007 - 13:58   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned one suburban Miami police officer is now dead after a shootout with a suspect who is still on the loose.
For the very latest on this, let's go to CNN's John Zarrella -- John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, that's exactly right. Just a few moments ago, the Miami-Dade mayor, Carlos Alvarez, confirmed that one of the four officers shot in a confrontation with a suspect has, in fact, died at a local hospital. One other officer we know of who is at Baptist Hospital is reportedly in good condition and may well be released today, at some point later this afternoon.

Now, this is a picture of the man that they are looking for. He's 30 or 31 years or old. His name is Kevin Wehner. And Wehner is believed to be the man who shot at police just a few hours ago.

Police were involved in surveillance, a burglary surveillance, down in the south Miami area when they came upon a vehicle. And that vehicle was moving erratically, so they stopped it, and that's when everything broke loose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA O'BRIEN, MIAMI-DADE POLICE: The subject got out of the vehicle, started to shoot at the officers. The subject then fled in the vehicle. I don't have confirmation yet, but we think that we do have the vehicle in our possession at this time and a weapon. However, that does not preclude the fact that this individual may have a second weapon.

We have four officers shot at this time. I cannot go into details about that until we finish notifying and contacting family members so that they are first aware of the condition of their officer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Again, one of the officers now, we learned, has passed away from the injuries he received. A massive manhunt under way. Multiple police agencies, including federal agencies, United States Customs Service, a Black Hawk helicopter is up, as well as the FBI offering its assistance.

A tragic, tragic day unfolding here in Miami. But, you know, Don, we have to look back. It was just a month ago, August 10th, that one Broward County police officer was shot.

LEMON: Yes.

ZARRELLA: He is still in critical condition. And a few days later, another Broward sheriff's officer was ambushed at a drugstore in Pompano Beach, and he was killed. And they are still looking for the person or persons who killed him.

So, within a period of a month, three police officers in south Florida have been shot. Two of them killed. And three others now we know also shot. So, about six officers shot in a month's time here in south Florida -- Don.

LEMON: And John, we heard from the mayor just a short time ago, just before he announced that the officer has died. He's also pleading for the public for their help, saying the public is going to need to help out to find the suspect.

Also, word in the beginning as well that there was possibly another suspect involved. What do you know, if anything about that, John?

ZARRELLA: They don't. They still think that there may be another suspect involved. Certainly, they say that they found that the weapon, a high-powered weapon, we believe, at the scene. But they are saying that this suspect, Kevin Wehner, may have another weapon.

That's the vehicle there, this Honda, that he or multiple suspects, if there is more than one, got away in, apparently abandoned that vehicle, and then took off perhaps on foot. We -- they are asking for the public in that area to at least, if they can, to -- if they know the man, to certainly to let police know. Or if they see them.

They are also asking the public in that area to be very careful. You know, as Linda O'Brien pointed out, she said, you know, if he shot at police, he certainly is not going to have any qualms about shooting at you. So be very, very careful, they are telling the public out there, keep your doors locked. But if they know this man, they are begging the -- anyone who does to please come forward with whatever information they might have -- Don.

LEMON: And that's some good advice. If you ever here it, that is some good advice.

Thank you very much, John, on top of this story for us in Miami.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Our other top story, where is Tropical Storm Humberto headed?

Chad Myers in CNN's hurricane headquarters with more -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right over Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: Right over Atlanta?

MYERS: Not right now, but it is in Louisiana, then Mississippi, Alabama, and then Atlanta, and then off the East Coast.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

MYERS: Yes, a pretty significant storm. It will still have a lot of moisture with it. It's losing its wind now. I suspect the next advisory it will say that it's probably just a tropical depression.

But there it was last night. There you go, about midnight. And there it goes, right on shore there.

Here's Port Arthur, here's Beaumont. We talked a lot about High Island. It is right there.

Pretty high, though. What do you say, 30 -- 30 feet high? So they didn't have any overwash with this. There wasn't a big storm surge on High Island.

And then from here to here, there's basically nothing except wildlife refuge. And then you get into Port Arthur, Beaumont, and then Lake Charles. So this storm is still going.

So, Kyra, I think we have something breaking here. Why don't you go ahead and take it over.

PHILLIPS: OK. All right.

Chad, I'm just being told that we got a piece in from our affiliate KHOU talking about what you were saying, yes, Humberto rumbling through Louisiana and into Mississippi. You just mentioned that. And then as we said, it crashed right into Texas as a Category 1 hurricane. Chad now saying it could make its way even over Atlanta.

It made a direct hit on the town of High Island. And that's where we find this report just in from Rucks Russell from our affiliate KHOU out of Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUCKS RUSSELL, REPORTER, KHOU: Well, there's a lot of damage everywhere you look in High Island. Take this gasoline station behind me, for instance. This is the only fuel station within 15 to 20 miles and it is completely destroyed.

Now, no one was inside this structure at the time of the damage, but we have heard some tremendous stories of survival today from folks who literally rode out the storm.

(voice over): It wasn't until the break of day that we started to see all that had been broken in High Island.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was not expecting this.

RUSSELL: Christian Andres (ph) plays high school football for the High Island Cardinals. But the scoreboard, the lights, and the field are out of commission now. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our home field destroyed completely.

RUSSELL: Trees were toppled over. Power lines snapped in two. The debris left Highway 87 on the peninsula off limits to all but a few, like a man traveling with his pregnant wife who was going into labor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten minutes apart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

RUSSELL: They made it through, as did Connie (ph) and Jack Peyton (ph), who hunkered down together as Humberto peeled away their home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It peeled my roof off like it was eating candy. Just normal wind won't do that.

RUSSELL (on camera): The winds were tremendously strong, literally tearing this front patio apart and moving the house from here several feet over to here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was just praying that the lord would keep us, protect us. That was my thoughts.

RUSSELL (voice over): The storm shook the building's foundation but not their faith. Nor the belief among many here that High Island will recover.

(on camera): But recovery may not be so easy for some who tell me they have no insurance, simply cannot afford it, and don't know what they are going to do now.

Now, in spite of all of that damage, the good news, no reports of any injuries. But power does remain out for the entire peninsula. It's expected to remain that way for the next several days.

I'm reporting in High Island, Rucks Russell, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you are being soaked by Humberto or know someone who is, send us an I-Report. You can just go to CNN.com, click on "I-Report," or type ireport@CNN.com into your cell phone and share your photos or video. But remember, your safety comes first. Avoid any dangerous storm situations, please.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Iraq report card this week wraps up with a look at the war from the perspective of the Oval Office. President Bush will give what's being called a major speech in prime time tonight.

Let's bring in our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley.

Candy, what's the political environment for the speech? CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I was going to say that the president faces a real headwind. But, in fact, watching this report, it really is much more hurricane-force winds that the president is facing as he makes a very important speech about Iraq that will mirror what the Petraeus reports said.

Let me show you a couple of new figures out of CNN-Opinion Research Corporation, new polling numbers.

The president's popularity at this point, his approval rating -- I'm sorry, this is a different one. This is about -- the question was: "Whose policies would move the country in the right direction?" Fifty percent said congressional Democrats, 34 percent said President Bush.

Now, this is as the president is beginning to do battle with Congress, which is expected next week to take up a variety of Iraq amendments to the defense authorization bill.

On the president's popularity, he's around 36 percent at this point. It is not so much where he is now, but the fact that he has been there for nine months now. More than that, in fact, dating back to last year.

So the country seems to have made up its mind about President Bush. He is going to have to do a heck of a job tonight to move Democrats or Independents. But in fact, most of his audience and most of his popularity now really is -- the speech really is aimed towards Republicans.

PHILLIPS: Well, and I want to ask you about if you think he can count on Republicans to back him up. But before we get to that, just quickly, I mean, this is being dubbed a major speech. But the last couple of speeches were dubbed major speeches, Candy. And a lot of critics said it was a letdown, he never really said anything new.

CROWLEY: Well, and the critics are going to say that again, because they have seen the Petraeus report, they understand what the president is going to say tonight, because we already know from the reporting of others that, in fact, the president will tonight endorse the Petraeus report.

So the fact of the matter is, the critics were set even before General Petraeus made his announcement, as were those who were going to support the president. So the dynamic hasn't changed, except for this: right now, what Democrats on Capitol Hill are trying to do is woo over some Republicans for something that would begin to change the course of the war in Iraq. And that's who the president really has to convince tonight when he does this speech, because you do sense that there could be a turning point in that there are Republicans who have said and voiced their dissatisfaction with the course of the war.

PHILLIPS: So is he going to have to convince Republicans as well?

CROWLEY: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, you know, there's a magic number on the Senate side. And that's 60. And that's really what you have to get, the number of votes you have to get in order to bring anything to a vote.

So what Democrats have to do -- they have such a slim majority at this point -- is they have to get Republicans. Do they have enough? So that's where the real battle is for about the 10 to 12 or so moderate Republicans in the Senate who have previously voiced some discouragement with the war.

PHILLIPS: All right. Candy Crowley, we'll be watching. I know you will, too. And we'll talk again.

CROWLEY: OK.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Candy.

Well, you can count on CNN to bring you the most comprehensive coverage, of course, of the presidential address tonight. Candy Crowley will be one of our analysts that will be watching.

You can join us for a special two-hour "SITUATION ROOM" starting at 7:00 Eastern. We're also going to bring you a special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE" following the president's address at 9:00 Eastern.

That's all tonight right here on CNN.

LEMON: A manhunt is under way in a suburban Miami neighborhood for the man, the suspect, this guy, Kevin Wehner, who shot four Miami County police officers, killing one of them.

They're looking for this man. This is the scene down in that neighborhood. Police say that the officers were on a call, a surveillance call, when they stopped this man, and then he opened fire with a high-powered weapon. Again, killing one officer, injuring three others.

We don't know the conditions of the other officers. But CNN will continue to update this story.

Police there and also the mayor asking for the public's help in this case. A manhunt under way in a Miami neighborhood.

PHILLIPS: And we talked about the president's speech tonight. He is expected to endorse General David Petraeus' plans for Iraq. But when will Mr. Bush start bringing U.S. troops home, and how many?

Our Jamie McIntyre checks it out.

LEMON: Also, Youssif's future is literally in his hands. We will talk with Dr. Steve Grossman about healing a little boy inside and out.

PHILLIPS: Plus, he never minces word, especially about himself. Jack Cafferty shares his life story and says we shouldn't expect any Hallmark moments. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: 2:14 Eastern Time. Here's three of the stories that we are working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A massive manhunt under way this hour in south Florida. A gunman shot and killed a Miami-Dade police officer today, wounding three other officers. Not sure of the conditions of those three yet. The gunman considered armed and dangerous is still on the loose.

A Utah jury has been chosen in the trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. Seven women and five men will hear that case against Jeffs. He is accused of being an accomplice to rape.

Overseas today, another series of earthquakes rattles Indonesia. The most powerful quake today registered a magnitude 7.8. Tsunami warnings were issued but have been lifted. Yesterday's quakes killed at least nine people.

LEMON: Let's continue to talk about that. A short time ago, another major aftershock rattled Indonesia. Authorities briefly put out a tsunami warning but canceled it just a short time ago. The aftershock was centered off Sumatra, where the initial quake, the earthquake, hit yesterday, killing at least nine people.

More from CNN's Kathy Quiano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The damage was minimal despite the scale of the first earthquake. To much relief, towns and cities across south Sumatra withstood the tremors.

The death toll and the number of injured remain low. But many who experienced the quake felt they wouldn't live through it.

Thirty-year-old Ibu Tuti (ph) fled her home on the coast of Bengkulu with her husband and two young children. They knew a tsunami could follow so they ran to higher ground.

"It was so scary," Tuti (ph) says. "Everything was swaying. We all ran out in panic and moved here where it's a few meters higher."

Tuti (ph) spent the night in this tent and went home briefly to check on her house. Tuti (ph) says she will stay here until the tremors stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Until now, we are still experiencing quite a lot of aftershocks, and they will continue for one or two days. But we need to inform people that aftershocks are not as powerful as the initial quake.

QUIANO: Still, many refuse to return to their normal routines. In this hospital, in the city of Padang, patients, some critically ill, were evacuated after the first quake. They are now getting treatment in tents along the roads.

(on camera): Doctors and nurses here say they are too scared to bring back the patients to the hospital for fear of aftershocks.

(voice over): Nine people were brought here for their injuries after the quake. Social Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie says Indonesia is ready if disaster strikes again.

ABURIZAL BAKRIE, SOCIAL WELFARE MINISTER: The ability of the system -- of the (INAUDIBLE) system -- it's much, much better, because we know what to do, we know how to do it and to build the houses in accordance to these standards.

QUIANO: A necessary precaution. The scientists say Sumatra's southern coast remains the most vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. A tsunami warning system is in place in Padang, but an integrated system is a year away.

With painful memories of the 2004 tsunami still in people's minds, they know the best chance of survival is simply running to safer, higher ground. A routine that has since become all too familiar.

Kathy Quiano, CNN, Padang, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Back here in the states, we're still following a developing story out of Cutler Bay, Florida. These are pictures coming to us from our affiliate WSVN.

The search still on for an armed and dangerous suspect, this man right here, 30-year-old Kevin Wehner, 30 years old, believed to be armed ask dangerous. Already has shot at four police officers. One pronounced dead, one in good condition.

Do not know the condition of the other two officers. But as you can seee, a number of agencies on the scene from Miami-Dade to the FBI. Even a Black Hawk helicopter airborne trying to find this suspect. They believe he fled in a white vehicle.

Of course, if you have any information, the police are asking you and urging you to stay away from this area and call police if you have any information, once again, on this man, Kevin Wehner, 30 years old, black male. The suspect police are looking for after four officers were shot at. One pronounced dead, one in good condition. Still trying to work the information on the other two officers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are following breaking news today in the CNN NEWSROOM.

One Miami-Dade County police officer is dead, three others injured. A suspect is on the loose.

Officials there are pleading with the public to help out in finding this man, Kevin Wehner. They are also talking to the media to get the word out.

Here's what they said to our affiliate just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: We continue to gather information about this individual that we are looking for, send out officers and detectives to search with whatever location that might be for him. What's important is that if any member of the public knows him, knows where he is, to call 911, call Crime Stoppers. Get that information to us really, really fast.

We need to get him in custody.

LIV DAVALOS, REPORTER, WFOR This plea from police agencies, from all over Miami-Dade County to the public, the community needs to get involved in this if they know where this man is?

O'BRIEN: I say involved only by contacting us. We must consider him armed and dangerous.

For God's sake, don't anybody approach him or anything like that. Just contact us, let us handle it if you have any information.

We're in the process of gathering more and more information and working this case very, very actively. Even though you see us here coordinating efforts, we are very actively working this case, of course.

DAVALOS: Again, tell us -- besides this scene, there are many other scenes, intersections still cordoned off and blocked off.

O'BRIEN: I haven't been up the turnpike in a couple of hours, but on my way down here, obviously, from headquarters, the turnpike and a lot of the major -- and all of the roadways northbound were in lockdown. So, again, I'm not too sure what that situation is. You may all know better than I at the moment. That being the case, we ask that people stay away from those areas because it's going to be total congestion.

DAVALOS: Again, Mayor Carlos Alvarez called this day a very sad day for Miami-Dade County. You've been discussing here with your colleagues. What is going through your colleagues' minds right now as well?

O'BRIEN: It almost has got no words to it. I mean, your blood just runs cold.

Broward County has had this experience. And now we are dealing with it. Any time fellow officers have been killed, then, you know, it just -- it destroys us. It destroys us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Miami-Dade County spokesperson Linda O'Brien speaking with Liv Davalos, a reporter from our affiliate WFOR. Let's get the picture up. Kevin Wehner is his name. They say he is armed and dangerous. And obviously, they want to get this guy and get him fast.

Again, police were conducting surveillance -- on a surveillance mission there and then happened to stop this guy because he was driving erratically. He opened fire with a high-powered weapon, injuring four officers. And now we have learned that he killed one of those officers.

They have got a huge search area here. They are telling people not to even come close to this area. But if they do know the suspect, know anything about him, have seen him, to call them with any information on this.

We'll follow this developing news throughout the day.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

LEMON: A new country and eventually a new face. Youssif is getting used to the idea of both those things.

Coming up, we'll hear from the doctor who's promised to make this little boy a whole lot better.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live in the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

LEMON: I'm Don Lemon. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Breaking news story out of Miami-Dade, Florida. One police officer, suburban police officer, is dead there. Three others are injured. And now they are on a manhunt for the suspect. This guy, right here: 30-year-old Kevin Wehner. Police say he's armed and dangerous. They are asking for the public's help while the other officers possibly fight for their lives. Let's take a listen now. Our reporter, one of our affiliate reporters, spoke with the mayor of Miami, Carlos Alvarez, just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CARLOS ALVAREZ, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: It is terrible. I was in the department for 28 years. I was in the Miami-Dade police department for 28 years. When I first came on, we had an incident where three officers were shot. And during my tenure there were other incidents like that. But it's a sickening feeling.

That's why I have always said that policing is such an honorable profession because you really don't know the day you go there and you know, you are putting your life on the line every single day. These officers were working a burglary detail, which is considered a non- violent crime. As a result of that, they confronted a man, and as a result of that confrontation, one of them loses their life. Basically he's assassinated by this man. And three of them are in the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds.

It is a very sad day for Dade County. We need to find this man as soon as possible so we can get him off the streets, because he is a very violent individual. Some one that is willing to engage in a gunfight with at least four Miami-Dade police officers, and kill one of them. We need to find him and we need to arrest him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: The mayor reiterating the severity of the crime and how they believe that the suspect is dangerous. Take another look at the suspect, Kevin Wehner, 30 years old. Police say, again, he's armed and dangerous.

Again, police were on just a surveillance mission. Nothing to do with this. Burglary surveillance detail when they saw a vehicle driving erratically. They attempted to stop him. And they say the subject opened fire out of the car, onto the four officers, with a high-powered weapon. They think that they have recovered the vehicle that he was in. And they have that and a weapon in custody. But he possibly has another weapon and they want the public's help in this.

Also, telling people to stay away from this area. It is dangerous. We will continue to update.

PHILLIPS: If you are a golfer you are going to know exactly what I'm talking about. Nothing can get you off that course except lightning. Chad Myers, big PGA tour here in Georgia. And lightning called.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. I don't know if you heard about it. How bad the greens have been because of the lack of rain, and all the heat and they had to do so much work to try to get these greens in playable shape. Now this moisture coming out of the Gulf of Mexico is right up here to Atlanta. And I'm going to zoom in to Atlanta proper. Here is Forest Park.

Let me see, the East Lake Country Club, right about -- right about there. And all of this weather coming up; 197 lightning strikes in the past hour. And here is a shot we just picked up here from PGA.com. If you want to go there and take a look at it as well. Pgatour.com.

And -- well, they are off the greens. They should be off the greens because the weather is coming in and it is going to be there for a while. I have friends that are playing there today or looking there today. Watching. And they say hey, is it going to be a great day? Yeah, dry, no problem. Oops. You never think of it coming all the way to Atlanta this quickly.

PHILLIPS: Now, it is at East Lake Golf Course.

MYERS: Right.

PHILLIPS: OK, that's the home of Bobby Jones.

MYERS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: That's where he grew up playing golf. You can actually go in the clubhouse and see some of his old clubs and a bunch of old pictures.

MYERS: Yes. It is a great course. I played the par 3 next to it, that you can get on, as a nobody. You can't get on that course, as a nobody, the big one.

PHILLIPS: Oh, I don't know, I was lucky to play it one time. We may be able to work something out, my friend. You have to have connections.

MYERS: We'll see.

PHILLIPS: Exactly. How much you got?

MYERS: I have six bucks.

PHILLIPS: How much money?

MYERS: And a valet coupon.

PHILLIPS: You need more than six bucks, pal.

LEMON: I just want to jump in and say when was the last time it rained, you know, in this area?

MYERS: Yeah.

PHILLIPS: Now it is dumping on us.

LEMON: And then all of a sudden you've got this thing -- ah.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Chad.

MYERS: It is coming in.

LEMON: Bad timing. OK.

Well, President Bush is addressing the nation about six and a half hours from now. His prime time speech focusing on Iraq. Specifically what his administration calls bottom-up progress. The president will argue that now is the time to build on it.

He is also expected to announce the withdrawal of 30,000 U.S. troops by next summer. Critics say that's nothing to celebrate. They say it merely reduces the troop numbers to what they were at the beginning of the year, before the so-called surge.

As we have been reporting, the president addresses the nation this evening and we are told to expect him to sign off on plans to start bringing troops home from Iraq. How many? And what units? Which branches? We need a fact check and our Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre has it for us. He is at the Iraq Fact Desk with the latest -- Jamie. JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGONE CORRESPONDENT: You just said the president is expected to announce the withdrawal 30,000 troops; because 30,000 is how many constituted the surge. But how many are really coming home? We are going to be checking that fact this hour.

And what we are told by the Pentagon is that the president, like General Petraeus, will be talking about troop numbers, but will be talking about brigades, battalions, and MEUs, Marine Expeditionary Units.

Here is your key to figure out how many troops he's really talking about. First of all, the five Army battalions, at about 3,500 troops apiece, 3,500 soldiers. You add that up and it comes up to about 17,500 troops. Then add in that Marine Expeditionary Unit, that's roughly 2,000 Marines. Plus, the two Marine battalions, add 1,000 apiece. That's another 2,000. So the total the president is talking about is really about 21,500 which, by the way, is the amount that they -- when they initially announced the surge back in January.

Now, you remember, there are a lot of support troops that went along as well, a little over 8,000. That made the 30,000. There has been no decision made on those support troops. The other criticism you hear all the time, again, you reported on earlier was the criticism that hey, General Petraeus isn't really ending the surge. It is just running out of steam, because the Army is out of troops. Here's what General Petraeus said about that yesterday at the National Press Club.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, CMDR., MULTINATIONAL FORCES, IRAQ: Yes, the surge forces were scheduled to go home between April and mid-July. That's absolutely right. But, you know, again I could have requested more surge forces. We -- we certainly could have run it much longer again, than as I said I've requested. There is another MEU coming into the area. We could have requested that as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: That's one of the things we will be looking for from the president tonight. Will he be making the point he's ending the surge early and is the mission really changing, or is it the same mission with just fewer troops? Don.

LEMON: All right, CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre. Thank you.

You can count on CNN to bring you the most comprehensive coverage of the presidential address tonight. Join us for a special two-hour "Situation Room." It starts at 7:00 Eastern. We will also bring you a special edition of "Larry King Live" following the president's address at 9:00 p.m.. That's all tonight right here on CNN.

PHILLIPS: The mouse that debated, the Internet let's users build their own question and answer sessions with the Democratic candidates of their choosing. We are going to explain how it all works straight ahead in the NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Let's go straight to St. George, Utah, where opening statements are set to begin in trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. He's accused of forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her 19- year-old cousin. Reporter Mike Watkiss, a reporter for affiliate station KTVK is standing by in St. George.

What more can you tell us, Mike?

MIKE WATKISS, REPORTER, KTVK NEWS: We can tell you, Kyra, that the long-awaited and unprecedented trial of polygamist prophet Warren Stead Jeffs now officially underway here in St. George, Utah; under unprecedented security measures. During past hearings Mr. Jeffs transported to the Washington County Courthouse via police motorcade, but not today.

No, today they broke out the helicopter. Transporting Mr. Jeffs from the Purgatory jail, about 15 miles away from this location to the Washington County Courthouse. On his arrival here we got sort of an inside look at what life must be like for the polygamist leader inside the jail.

Wearing a green and white striped jailhouse jumpsuit; also, wearing what appears to be a flak jacket, bulletproof vest, shackled at his feet and hands; once inside, donning a suit that he has been wearing throughout the pre-trail hearings.

The judge dispensing with some final business this morning, whittling the jury down to the final 12 people who will hear the "rape as an accomplice" case against Mr. Jeffs. The judge set up sort of an interesting mathematic equation for himself. Mr. Jeffs' lawyers have argued strenuously that he could not get a fair trial here in St. George, Utah.

So the judge said let's bring in 300 potential jurors. If we can question them and screen them, and get it down to 28 qualified jurors, we will proceed. Got that number yesterday. Those 28 people here today. Then he whittled it down one more time. Seven women and five men will be the jury composition. Eight of them will end up being jurors. Four of them will be alternates.

Looks like a young jury for St. George. Long-time observers tell me usually it is retirees who sit on the jury here in southern Utah. But a number of young women, sort of a surprising development. We are expecting opening arguments and jury instructions to begin at 1:30 Mountain Standard Time.

Really, this saga has been developing during the last decade here in this part of the country. Of course, Mr. Jeffs on the run for months, on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted. Finally, getting his day in court, as we begin with the criminal prosecution of Warren Stead Jeffs this afternoon.

PHILLIPS: Mike Watkiss, with our affiliate KTVK out of St. George, Utah. Thanks so much.

LEMON: The mouse that debated? Well, the Internet lets users build their own question and answer sessions with the Democratic candidates of their choosing. We will explain how it works straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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LEMON: There it is. That's our city.

PHILLIPS: A little gloomy today.

LEMON: That's where we live. We have been praying for rain. Begging for it. Doing a rain dance. Right, Chad? All of a sudden, we get it. And what happens?

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PHILLIPS: Well, it's billed as a candidate mash-up; a chance for web surfers to customize their own debates among the presidential hopefuls. Is it any different from other political debate? What's a mash-up, anyway? Our Internet Correspondent Abbi Tatton joins us from Washington.

So, Abbi, how does it work?

ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this is just the latest in trying to get web users involved and interacting during the political process.

Yesterday the Democratic candidates were answering questions from a moderator, that's Charlie Rose. The way their answers were presented is a little bit different. Online, first of all, these bit-size chunks of video that web users can then arrange any way they please. You can see Charlie Rose, there, pointing across the screen, trying to explain this to people.

Take your candidate that you want to hear from, and then the issue. For example, if you want to hear about Iraq, the candidates were asked about that. Move-on ad, from the anti-group. MoveOn, this week that ran in "The New York Times." They were asked what did you make of that? How did you respond to that, Senator Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, both not criticizing Move-on, but saying perhaps the emphasis should have been on president instead.

And former Senator John Edwards responded to that, that he had not seen the ad. This is a way to line up those responses. Take a look at them for yourself. Or you can just look at all the responses to the questions that were presented by Bill Maher, who shows up as a kind of a wild card questioner at the end. Let's see if I can plays this, see one of his questions for Senator Hillary Clinton.

Maybe we may have to try that the old-fashioned way. Because it is not working on my screen right now. Let's see if we can roll the sound bite like we would in the old days. Sound bite not there? OK, what he asked, what Bill Maher asked of Hillary Clinton that George Bush fooled you, he was referring to her Iraq war vote in 2002. She said, he said why should Americans vote for someone who could be fooled by George Bush? To great laughter from Senator Clinton, there, who responded, well, it is a little bit more complicated than that -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Abbi, the beauty of TV. Plan A, plan B, plan C. You read it from your notes.

TATTON: Try it on the computer, try it the old-fashioned way, and still not there.

PHILLIPS: That's all right. Well, is this all the debate, or mash-up was supposed to be? How far does it go?

TATTON: Well, there has been a lot of discussion of that online. Really, how much interactivity was there? How much could you do with this format? What the site did let you do is line up, as I said, those responses and compare them. We just spoke to Yahoo, and they said they are going a little bit further. They are taking all that video and they are putting it on to an editing website, as we speak right now. So you will really be able to create something new. So you'll really be able to create something new. Your own kind of finished product with the material that they're uploading.

PHILLIPS: So, any signs Republican candidates might get involved in this, too?

TATTON: Basically, watch this space on that one. Yahoo does say they extended that invitation to the Republican candidates. They are going to pursue them now that they have done it once with the Democrats.

Of course, CNN and YouTube has teamed up for debates, interactive debates, that combine the online community with the political process. We did it with the Democrats in July, South Carolina. And our Republican debate is coming up in November. November 28th is when the Republican candidates are taking that spot (ph) there.

PHILLIPS: Abbi Tatton, thank you so much. CNN and YouTube recently sponsored a Democratic debate. Now we are getting ready for the Republicans' turn. GOP presidential hopefuls will square off on Wednesday, November 28th. You can submit a question at youtube.com/republican debate. Of course, you can watch it here on CNN.

LEMON: We are going to continue to follow our developing story out of Florida. A manhunt is going on there for the man who killed a police officer and injured three others. Details to come.

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LEMON: There's a lot going on in a suburban Miami neighborhood, specifically Cutler Bay, Florida. The mayor of Cutler Bay, his name is Paul Vrooman, he is on the phone with us now to tell us about this manhunt, the suspect who killed one officer, injured three others.

What can you tell us, Sir, that's happening in your community?

MAYOR PAUL VROOMAN, CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA: Well, at this point I need to make sure it is clear that this investigation, or the scene you are seeing on TV right now, is not actually in the town of Cutler Bay. It is not too far from here. But it is not in Cutler Bay.

The police force, the officers that were shot today, are not part of the Cutler Bay police force. Although, our officers are part of the Miami-Dade County -- a separate unit of the Miami-Dade County force. And our hearts and prayers and thoughts are going out to the officers that were shot and their families and loved ones.

LEMON: Absolutely. So, this is -- you said it is not exactly in your city, it may not be in the bounds of your city limits, but it is definitely pretty darned close.

VROOMAN: It's -- it's -- exactly.

LEMON: So, tell us -- give us a sense of what's happening there in the community, in the surrounding area, which you are a part of.

VROOMAN: There's a nervousness. You can sense it. It is palpable. There are police cars coming through. I'm sitting in my office right now and every few minutes, another siren goes by. And we are seeing -- the police believe me are throwing everything they've got on this. I know that our force is out in full force, coordinating with the Miami-Dade police. They do an excellent job. There is no doubt in my mind that this person will be apprehended.

The sense we have here is that there is a real sense of loss and suffering that we all share with the officers and their families, and their colleagues.

LEMON: Yes.

VROOMAN: We are one community. This, you know, you watch a lot of the shows about Miami, and this part of the country. And with fantastic crime stories that are fictional and -- our crime is actually down by 20 percent in this --

LEMON: Well, Mr. Mayor, you know, we want to get into the specifics of that and we are glad that your crime is down. But today there is a tragedy being suffered there.

VROOMAN: Right.

LEMON: Also, this man is very dangerous. We are being told by police, as well that he's very dangerous. Obviously, if he went after four officers like this. Tell us about the community there. Because folks are being told not to go anywhere near this area and some people won't be allowed back into their homes for hours, we are told. What is your department, and your city, specifically, doing about this?

VROOMAN: Well, that's exactly right. I mean, we -- I would -- I would echo and we would echo the exact same sentiment. This is the last place somebody needs to go and be a bystander. If you are in that area, or anywhere in the area, the best thing to do is just stay put. And stay safe in your home. And stay with your families and your loved ones. And stay out of the way. And this is -- this is not the time to go and try to get involved and watch what's going on. This is not entertainment. This is tragedy.

LEMON: By no means. Paul Vrooman, the mayor of Cutler Bay. We thank you for joining us today in the CNN NEWSROOM.

If we can get that picture back; you are looking at a live picture in the Miami-Dade, Florida area. That is from our affiliate WPLG. And as we have been reporting here on CNN, that -- it's saying it's Cutler Bay, Florida, as well. Right on the border, obviously, in the Miami-Dade county area.

They are looking for a suspect there who shot and killed one officer and injured three other officers. That suspect is Kevin Wehner. Police say he's extremely dangerous and believed he could be armed. They do have a gun, and a car in their custody that was -- they believe belonged to him but have not found him. Asking for the public's help. We will continue to be update.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, a new country and eventually a new face. Youssif is getting idea of both. Coming up we will hear from the doctor who has promised to make this little boy feel a whole lot better.

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