Man in crane standoff fights extradition to Florida
Suspect halted traffic, business in Atlanta for more than 2 days
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The man who stayed atop a crane above an Atlanta neighborhood for more than two days fought extradition Tuesday to Florida, where authorities accuse him of killing his ex-girlfriend.
Carl Edward Roland, 41, refused to waive his extradition rights during a hearing Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court.
Florida authorities have 60 to 90 days to seek Roland's return, Fulton Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks said. Hicks set a status hearing for July 11.
Pinellas County, Florida, authorities accuse Roland in the killing of his former girlfriend, Jennifer Gonzalez, 36. Her beaten body was found in a retention pond behind her apartment complex May 24. Authorities said Gonzalez was seen with Roland shortly before her death. They issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to return to his home in Clearwater, Florida.
Roland also faces a misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge stemming from last week's 56-hour standoff 350 feet above Atlanta's upscale Buckhead district, which forced the closing of a two-block section of a major thoroughfare and disrupted restaurant, club and shopping business.
Hicks said Roland would remain in custody in connection with the Florida killing, even if he posts bond on the trespassing charge.
The high-altitude standoff began Wednesday afternoon when Roland rode an elevator to the crane's horizontal arm, police said.
Refusing food and water, he remained atop the crane until 12:31 a.m. Saturday, when he edged toward authorities who offered him some water.
Police used a stun gun to take him into custody.
He is in custody at the Fulton County Jail.
CNN's Tristan Smith contributed to this report.
