BY JULIANNE MCSHANE
AND COLIN MIXSON
Cops cuffed a man who
caused an hours-long shutdown
of parts of Atlantic Avenue
on March 19, after he
barricaded himself inside a
nearby Court Street building
claiming to have a gun —
which police later discovered
was an imitation pistol.
Offi cers booked the suspect
— whom a cop described
as emotionally disturbed
— shortly after 2 pm, on the
eighth fl oor of the offi ce and
residential building between
State Street and Atlantic Avenue
that he locked himself
inside. Prior to apprehending
him, authorities cordoned off
three blocks of the avenue
between Boerum Place and
Clinton Street as they investigated
the threat.
Cops transported the man
to a local hospital following
his arrest, according to a Police
Department spokesman.
Authorities responding to
the incident also barred the
Atlantic Avenue entrances
COURIER L 14 IFE, MARCH 22–28, 2019 PS
to some nearby buildings, including
the YMCA at 225 Atlantic
Ave., whose patrons
cops escorted out through a
rear entrance on State Street
after locking the facility’s
main entrance on the avenue
around 9 am, according to a
witness who declined to give
her name.
Police also closed the main
Court Street entrance to the
Trader Joe’s store near Atlantic
Avenue, according to
an employee, who said shoppers
continued to browse its
aisles as chaos unfolded outside.
“The freaky thing about it
is everybody acting normal,
even though there’s a guy
across the street with a gun,”
said Dominique Cortes. “Everybody’s
more concerned
with getting their groceries
than getting shot.”
The drama in fact made
for an ideal shopping experience,
according to one Downtowner,
who claimed he’d
never seen the normally bustling
grocer so blissfully barren.
“It’s completely calm and
empty,” said Marc Easton.
“There are no lines, the aisles
are clear, it’s not your typical
Trader Joe’s experience.”
SHOPPING SPREE: Cops locked
the Court Street entrance to grocer
Trader Joe’s while investigating
the threat, but escorted shoppers
into the store through a back
entrance on Atlantic Avenue.
Photo by Colin Mixson
DETOUR: Police set up a barricade on Atlantic Avenue between Boerum
Place and Clinton Street after the allegedly emotionally disturbed man
barricaded himself inside a nearby Court Street building, claiming to be
armed. Photo by Colin Mixson
Atlantic frantic!
Man arrested, found with fake gun after cops
close off Atlantic Avenue amid shooting threat