|
Murrah Building Bombing: Oklahoma City 1995
After the
bombing of the Murrah Building and damage to the outlying areas, and the murder
of 168 innocent people, I, a deputy Sheriff then was assigned to guard the
United States Marshal's Office Control Center. During that time I was approached
by a man of mid-eastern decent carrying a small package. He requested to enter
the secured area and that he had something very important to give the marshals.
I told the
man to
return to the street until someone could be contacted for fear that the package
may contain a deadly substance or bomb. He began arguing with me and demanding
to enter. I turned and yelled at a nearby officer that I needed some help out
front. I was honestly scared at this point that this guy was whacko. His
appearance and strange persistence only added to my fears. I was thinking, there
was nothing I could do not knowing the contents of his package and that if there
was some kind of triggering mechanism to it I surely would be no obstacle in
his way if he decided to go directly to Allah by way of ka-boooom. He then
handed me the package.
When
distracted by some voices in the compound nearby behind me, I turned to see who
the people were. I observed two officers walking toward me cautiously, as I
turned around to confront the stranger, he had disappeared faster than Houdini.
I told one of the officers to watch the entrance while I quickly walked over to
the other side of the street to place the package on the ground and away from
the headquarters. I yelled that a guy had just handed me a strange package and
disappeared, to call the bomb team. The bomb Squad was notified immediately as I
stood near the package to ward anyone off from the area. A marshal walked up to
me and I gave him the details and the guys description.
Later, the
package was only found to have some anti-government literature and propaganda in
it. The suspect was never found after an extensive search. During this same time
period, a Sheriff deputy's K9 dog had sniffed the same package before the bomb
squad had arrived. This K9 became deathly sick later on and died. It is not
known to this day what may have killed this fine brave dog, something in the
package? No one knows.
The whole
experience was very strange and scary. One must take into account that even
after a great tragedy event, danger and more problems can still be present and
occur.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Heitmeyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in
Paradise Valley. Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and completed his
service to our country. Jim later joined the Oklahoma Army National Guards 745
Military Police Company. Jim served during the "Just Cause" war in Panama and
Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Jim Heitmeyer attained the rank of
sergeant (E5).
Jim Hietmeyer is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma
County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma). After his retirement from the Oklahoma
County Sheriffs Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police
Department from 2001 through 2004. During his career, he worked as a jailer,
deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards
instructor. He is the author of two books under the pen name of Jim Daly:
Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.
|
