Baltimore Spectator Blogger, James MacArthur, Surrenders to Police After Standoff
The @BaltSpectator blogger broadcast his negotiations with police via his online streaming website.
(UPDATED) 12:12 a.m.—AF James MacArthur, who blogs as the Baltimore Spectator, live streamed negotiations during a standoff with Baltimore police in Waverly on Saturday night. MacArthur surrendered peacefully, police said.
MacArthur was involved in about a four-hour standoff with police and he broadcast the event in its entirety via his account on www.spreaker.com before surrendering.
According to electronic court records, MacArthur was wanted for violation of probation regarding gun charges filed in 2009. Police went to his address in the 400 block of McKewin Avenue to take him into custody. When he refused to answer the door, a standoff ensued.
Eventually a police SWAT team was called to the scene because of police concerns about messages posted to MacArthur's Twitter account during the past few days.
MacArthur decried what he said was a situation taken too far by police.
"What we're seeing going on is an abuse of SWAT. I'm seeing that the Baltimore Police Department ... that because of something said on Twitter allegedly, we so quickly end up with a SWAT situation. This is highly disturbing to me as a citizen of this town. That it's so easy to get a SWAT deployment," MacArthur said.
Police negotiator Lt. Jason Yerg contacted MacArthur via cell phone. MacArthur put Yerg on speaker phone and broadcast the negotiations for his surrender.
MacArthur used the negotiations to air his grievances with Baltimore police about previous arrests as well as to convey his fears about being mistreated by police.
"I'm going to come out. Whatever happens, happens. I'm prepared to die. That's fine," he said.
At about 11 p.m. MacArthur agreed to exit his house and surrender to police, leaving his listeners with a recording of Rep. Ron Paul’s farewell address to Congress.
"Folks, this is it. This is James MacArthur. I"m going out peacefully. I'm going to put a (music) clip in place and after that it will just be dead air," MacArthur said before ending his broadcast.
"I thank everybody for listening. I ask some of you, don't abandon me after this. I have absolutely been railroaded. I'm going to need some help after this ... those with legal expertise. We don't need this kind of stuff to go on ... This is a bunch of nonsense."
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Patch editor Nayana Davis contributed to this story.
Lee Titford
10:30 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
What truth has Mr. MacArthur blogged about that has set the police on such a rampage??? Think about it.
Tiff Storey
11:55 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Why would police be on a rampage about a spoken truth?
Can't watch video feed. Guess he was captured.
Frank Quinn Jr
11:55 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
what happened? was the surrender non-violent?
Ashly
11:55 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
truth!
number9dream
1:23 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Just another narcissistic Don Quixote.
FreeThinker
6:13 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
This is his either his third or fourth weapons charge spanning from 2002 to the present and he wonders why the police are so cautious in apprehending him? A judge issued a warrant for his arrest believing that he violated probation for a weapon charge and what do ya know, when they finally get in there.....more weapons. This guy is just another product of the modern mindset that the government or society or something else must be to blame, not yourself.
Ashley
8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
FreeThinker..... I think u need to change your user name, because u don't sound like a free thinker spewing your propaganda! what part of the 2nd amendment don't you understand? All gun laws are unconstitutional, and therefore null and void!
FreeThinker
9:52 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Maybe I should change my name to FreeThinker J.D. or FreeThinker Esquire and then you wouldn't try to tell me something that I know to be incorrect. Any of our rights may be denied by due process, which Mr. MacArthur's were when he was found guilty and when he plead guilty. If you disagree with a law, it is your duty as a citizen to attempt to change it. If you choose to not to anything about it, just ignore it, then you also choose to accept the penalties that go along with it. Rather than spouting about the 2nd amendment, a right that I enjoy through my concealed carry permit legally, continue reading on down to the 5th amendment.
Able Baker
11:32 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
In libertarian fantasyland, all laws are null and void.
Joe
12:55 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
" If you disagree with a law, it is your duty as a citizen to attempt to change it. If you choose to not to anything about it, just ignore it, then you also choose to accept the penalties that go along with it. "
Wow! That is the first time I ever heard or read what I preached to my children their entire lives. 3 simple rules regarding laws. Obey them. Work to change them. Or violate them and accept the consequences. Excellent advice.
Buck Harmon
9:00 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
So then...James MacArthur is fighting to change laws that are not in keeping with the requirements of the US Constitution and suffering the consequences because of his own opinion...??
FreeThinker
11:59 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
He isn't doing anything to change laws, he is just complaining about how he keeps getting in trouble. He also signed a probation order agreeing not to own any weapons to keep his sorry butt out of jail. If he was such an activist he should have refused the probation and taken the jail time. Ask yourself what he was doing to get caught with the firearm the first few times and why he wasn't campaigning for the second amendment prior to getting in trouble.
Buck Harmon
3:09 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
The story evolves...
IamGayle
3:09 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
To date, no local media (including the site which Mr. MacArthur has his blod on) is reporting what has and actually is happening. People reading how this is being reported by our inept local media are basing their opinions on this situation from inaccurate information.
IamGayle
2:31 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The comment I posted before 10 am this morning wasn't 'confirmed' as a post until I got the following message a few minutes ago...
"Your comment is now live on North Baltimore Patch. Thanks for your contribution.
To continue the conversation return to Baltimore Spectator Blogger, James MacArthur, Surrenders to Police After Standoff."
So where is my comment???
IamGayle
2:31 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
My bad.... I see it now!
IamGayle
2:40 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
How many folks commenting here, and elsewhere as well on this actually know the facts of the case/situation?
IamGayle
9:10 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
WIll Patch be there Thursday evening?
Buck Harmon
12:49 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
One of those quick shoot deals..would seem..
IamGayle
1:16 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Got the dates wrong, the gathering is next Thursday, the 20th. Again, it'll be interesting how Patch continues to cover this, considering it's one of their own.
Steve
12:45 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I wonder how his Habeus Corpus hearing went yesterday?
IamGayle
5:27 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Info is available on the Friends of MacArthur page on FB....