Baltimore police locked in standoff take cautious approach

Suspected killer fires repeatedly

March 20, 2000
Web posted at: 6:10 a.m. EST (1110 GMT)

In this story: Suspect asked to speak with ex-girlfriend Neighbors told to stay inside Suspect kept Idaho police at bay RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

DUNDALK, Maryland (CNN)-- Police locked in a standoff with a suspected killer of four say they are trying to avoid agitating the gunman -- who is believed to be holding three hostages in a Baltimore-area residence.

"Our main strategy is patience, patience, patience," Baltimore County Police spokesman Bill Toohey said.

No one has been reported injured but the suspect, Joseph Palczynski , has fired his gun periodically since taking the hostages Friday night.

Shots were fired several times Sunday, the latest at 7 p.m., Toohey said. He said the shots were several individual shots, not bursts of gunfire as had occurred earlier. He did not know who the suspect may have been targeting. Police did not return fire.

Authorities said Palczynski was believed to be watching the siege on television.

Palczynski stopped talking with negotiators for about an hour-and-a-half Sunday morning, and police moved in with an armored vehicle and a bullhorn to urge him to resume communications.

"Joby, we need you to pick up the phone," an officer said over the loudspeaker, using Palczynski's nickname. "Come on Joby, pick up the phone."

Palczynski responded with shots and the armored vehicle backed away. He soon resumed talks, but then fired more shots, said Toohey.

Toohey said that before shooting at the armored vehicle, Palczynski fired several rounds out of the apartment and may have hit some vehicles parked in the area. No one was hurt, Toohey said.

Toohey refused to speculate on when the standoff might end.

"We just don't know how long it's going to go, or how it's going to play out," Toohey told reporters on Sunday.

Suspect asked to speak with ex-girlfriend

The apartment where Palczynski is holed up belongs to the mother of his ex-girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead. Police have identified the hostages as Whitehead's mother Lynn; Andy McCord, variously described as Whitehead's stepfather or her mother's boyfriend; and McCord's 12-year-old son, Brad. Police said on Sunday that the hostages have not been harmed.

"All we know is they're not hurt," Toohey said. "We know they're not hurt because of our conversations with him."

Television stations and newspapers reported that Palczynski has repeatedly asked to talk to Whitehead.

Palczynski, a 31-year-old electrician, had been living with Whitehead, 22, until two weeks ago when she moved out and alleged that he beat her and had threatened to kill her, police said. He was arrested but released on $7,500 bail posted by his mother.

Whitehead went to stay with the family of a fellow discount store clerk in Chase, Maryland. On March 7, a man showed up at the home, killed Whitehead's friend and her husband and kidnapped Whitehead. The intruder also allegedly killed a neighbor who heard screaming and tried to help.

Whitehead escaped unharmed, and Toohey on Sunday refused to comment on her whereabouts.

Police said Palczynski allegedly shot and killed a woman in a carjacking in which her 2-year-old child was wounded.

Neighbors said the hostage standoff started around 9:30 p.m. Friday when Whitehead's mother returned home after staying with relatives during the manhunt for Palczynski. Police said Palczynski shot his way into the apartment.

Police won't comment on specifics of their negotiations with Palczynski, but said that after he demanded food, they used a robot to deliver a small order of food to the apartment Saturday night. Another delivery was made on Sunday, but Toohey would not say what items were included.

Neighbors told to stay inside

Police warned neighbors again on Sunday to stay inside and keep away from windows. Officers were not allowing anyone in or out of the neighborhood. A shelter was opened at a local elementary school for residents who had to evacuate their homes.

"We're just asking people to be extremely cautious," Toohey said.

In a news conference late Saturday, police said they had found a bag containing a battery-operated television, clothes, batteries and water bottles behind a house in nearby Essex, Maryland, that Palczynski allegedly had broken into Friday.

Police Corporal Vickie Warehime of the Baltimore County Police said that while Palczynski was inside, three people returned to the house and that Palczynski tied them up and stole their car. No one was injured.

Suspect kept Idaho police at bay

Relatives and friends say Palczynski, who has a history of convictions for assault and battery, has said in the past that he would commit suicide or make police shoot him rather than go back to prison.

A psychiatrist was helping negotiators, Warehime said. Police have said Palczynski has bipolar disorder, often called manic depression, which can cause extreme mood swings if untreated.

In 1992, Palczynski kept police in Idaho at bay for 16 hours following a domestic violence complaint by a girlfriend. He was finally forced out with tear gas.

Baltimore police wait out tense hostage ordeal
March 19, 2000
Hostage standoff with suspected killer continues outside Baltimore
March 18, 2000
Maryland police search for alleged killer as trail grows cold
March 13, 2000

Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department
  • Palczynski photographs

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