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Man says he's God, does this to TV station
01:31 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

A man smashed a stolen truck into the lobby of a local TV news station

"chillin @ abc2 news waiting and yawning," the suspect tweeted while inside

Police say he was watching the ordeal unfold on the local news

The suspect had a golf club but no firearms, police said

CNN  — 

A man who smashed a truck through the lobby of a Maryland TV news station and proclaimed himself God Tuesday was arrested hours later – watching the ordeal unfold on the local news, authorities said.

Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson told reporters that SWAT team officers closed in on the suspect as he was “watching different channels” in a station editing room – “watching you report this story as this incident unfolded.”

Aware that the suspect was watching on TV, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said, authorities decided against releasing any information publicly until after the incident.

Baltimore County police identified the suspect as Vladimir Mehul Baptiste, 28, and said he is facing three counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Described by police as mentally ill, the suspect gave a running commentary of the situation during the hours he was barricaded.

“chillin @ abc2 news waiting and yawning,” the suspect tweeted from CNN affiliate WMAR.

“can you all see me the days of the negative energies hurting you are OVER!” he added.

The station and a nearby school were evacuated. Johnson said tactical officers had to move slowly and cautiously because they were responding to an “active shooter” incident.

TV station returns to air after man crashes truck into lobby

‘Ramming the building’

The official Twitter account of Baltimore County Public Safety said the first call from WMAR was received at 11:45 a.m. There was a report of a disturbance, with a man banging on the door trying to get in.

Within minutes, authorities said, there was another call about a truck crashing into the station lobby. Police said the suspect had “contact” with a security guard before making his way to the second-floor editing room.

“The individual was ranting and raving incoherent statements,” Johnson said. “It was clear from the very beginning that we were dealing with an emotionally disturbed subject.”

Mike Marion, a commercial production producer at WMAR, told CNN that he was in his office when he heard a loud sound.

“I heard someone rattling the door in a violent manner and screaming started: ‘Let me in, let me in, I’m (expletive) God. You have to let me in‎,’” Marion said. “I saw a young … male in his 20s, no older than 30, blue oxford shirt with a black sling backpack, get into a large racing green landscaping truck. He backed it out of [the] visitors’ space … began ramming the building … smashed through first section of atrium…The last thing I saw, the truck was fully in the lobby.”

“I saw a young … male in his 20s, no older than 30 – blue oxford shirt with a black sling backpack – get into a large racing-green landscaping truck. He backed it out of (the) visitors’ space … began ramming the building … smashed through first section of atrium. …The last thing I saw, the truck was fully in the lobby.”

Marion said he never saw the suspect get out of the truck. The building was evacuated as officers searched for the suspect. No injuries were reported.

Trying to report

All the while, WMAR journalists could relay information only via Twitter and the station’s website. By mid-afternoon, a makeshift newsroom had been set up about a mile north of the station – but the reporters still had no way to broadcast.

Inside the station, police found sheaths for machetes believed to have been used by workers in the highway truck. They also recovered a satchel with unknown contents. The suspect had a golf club but no firearms, police said.

A dog was used to subdue the suspect, who was taken for a psychiatric evaluation before facing criminal charges, police said.

The motive was unknown.

CNN’s Eric Fiegel contributed to this report.