Dec 6, 2007 7:26 pm US/Eastern
Port St. Lucie Man Charged After 10-Hour Standoff
HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) ―
A Port St. Lucie man who barricaded himself inside a Hollywood commercial building after firing on firefighters has been charged after surrendering to police after a 10-hour standoff.
John Radu, owns a bakery next door, and nervously stayed inside his shop for ten hours while negotiations went. "I was in my business and I heard the shots. I thought something happened in the jeep as popping something. I didn't even realize it was gunfire," he said.
The incident began when Hollywood Fire Rescue was called to the 400 block of S. Dixie Highway to put out a fire in an SUV around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Hollywood Police Sgt. Manny Marino said as firefighters went to put out the flames, they were warned by a bystander that they needed to get away from vehicle because a man with a gun was about to fire on them.
At that point, Marino said 40-year old Eyal Orkabi, armed with a handgun, ran up and yelled at the firefighters to get away from the SUV.
Investigators later discovered that Orkabi started the vehicle fire and then called 911.
As Orkabi ran into the building at 428 S. Dixie Highway, police say they heard several gunshots coming from inside. Firefighters sought cover as they continued to put out the flames in the burning SUV.
Marino said as Orkabi continued to fire more shots inside the building and through the windows, the SWAT unit was called in and a police negotiator was able to establish contact with him. The Broward Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad was also called to the scene. Several agents from FBI were also called in to assist in finding out more about the gunman.
After nearly 10 hours, SWAT team members entered the building and the man surrendered.
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