Post date: Feb 02, 2013 7:42:39 PM
Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson tells a brief news conference that authorities had been "in constant communication" with the suspect who police believe abducted a five-year-old boy from a bus and disappeared into a home-made bunker.
MIDLAND CITY, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 2, 2013) (REUTERS) - Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson addressed the media on Saturday (February 2) as a tense hostage standoff continued for a fifth day.
Olson briefly addressed reporters, thanking the suspect and saying he had told them he has blankets and an electric heater in the underground bunker."We've had an open line of communication with Mr. Dykes," Olson said.
"He's told us he has electric heaters and blankets inside, that he's taking care of him. He's also allowed us to provide coloring books, medication, toys. I want to thank him for taking care of our child. That is very important," he added.
The suspect is Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, a Vietnam veteran and retired truck driver who prefers to be called "Jim," according to a law enforcement official at the scene.
Olson said they have been in constant communication with Dykes. Negotiators were still trying to persuade Dykes to surrender. Police have said they believe the Vietnam-era veteran fatally shot a school bus driver on Tuesday (January 29), and then abducted a five-year-old boy from the bus and disappeared into the homemade bunker.
Law enforcement officials have been tight-lipped about the delicate communications and sensitive situation, trying to get Dykes to surrender. One law enforcement official said he believe Dykes did have access to local tv news.