Blogger Broadcasts, Tweets His Tense Standoff With Police From Baltimore Basement

Baltimore blogger James MacArthur took to the social media airwaves this weekend to broadcast his showdown with local police, who had come to his home to execute a warrant for his arrest. According to MacArthur, he was “surrounded by a bunch of men with guns” and told officers “this is the craziest thing I ever experienced in my life.”

Police said the warrant for 47-year-old MacArthur had been issued in June for a probation violation stemming from a 2009 gun case. MacArthur missed his court date and police arrived at his home around 6 p.m. Saturday to take him in. According to officer Lt. Col. Garnell Green, MacArthur had continually made threats on Twitter against any officers who might try to arrest him and therefore, the decision was made to call in a tactical unit.

MacArthur began documenting the escapade live on The Baltimore Spectator website. Lt. Jason Yerg, told MacArthur that he could “guarantee” MacArthur’s safety: “You’re going to be treated with fairness and respect.” MacArthur seemed unconvinced, asking Yerg, “Fairness and respect? No friggin’ knees in my back?” He also told police that the negotiator should “be battling bad guys, not spending his time talking to The Baltimore Spectator.”

Over the course of the the nearly five hour standoff, MacArthur called himself “one lone blogger in a dark part of his basement” and told Yerg, “I’m a public figure now. I’m a journalist, and this is my story.”

Over the course of the day and night, MacArthur increased his Twitter followers by more than 2,000. At one point, CNN analyst Roland Martin tweeted, “Why won’t a friend of @BaltoSpectator come by to help him out, as opposed to the cops tearing the doors to arrest him.”

MacArthur eventually signed off just before 11 p.m, telling listeners, “All right, it’s 10:57. Network news comes on at 11. Let’s wrap this up for the networks. I’m headed out. ” He assured officers that he wasn’t going to do “something stupid” and asked viewers not to abandon him, saying he had been “railroaded” and that he would need help. He then identified his attorney as “Delegate Jill P. Carter” and asked viewers to contribute to his legal defense fund if they were able.

h/t Baltimore Sun

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