Suspicious Vehicle Had Gas Containers For... Lawn Mowing

Last night, the NYPD and FDNY responded to a call about a "suspicious vehicle" parked outside the Con Edison building on Irving Place between 14th and 15th Streets, a block east of Union Square. The 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera had some gas containers in the back seat. After closing down some streets, partially evacuating a building and having the bomb squad inspect the car, it was determined that the vehicle was not a threat. Oh, and talking to the car's owner helped, too.

The owner said that the gas was for mowing lawns—because that's what he does for a living. He had been attending the Buzzcocks concert at the Fillmore up the street, and by the time he got to the scene, the bomb squad had already blown out his car's windows so the bomb robot could look inside. The Post reports he said, "What happened! What happened! What's wrong? I didn't do anything." The NYPD determined there was "no malicious intent" involved.

The Buzzcocks actually stopped in the middle of a song to ask, "Does anyone have a 1991 Cutlass?" A worker at a nearby Chipotle wondered to the Daily News, "There's so many threats coming to New York. How many more?"

Ever since a smoking SUV—which had a homemade bomb made out of gasoline containers, propane tanks, firecrackers, and non-explosive fertilizer—was found in Times Square on May 1 (it's believed the SUV's owner is tied to the Pakistani Taliban), there has been a jump in the number of suspicious packages reported and it seems like there are more evacuations.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 14, 2010 7:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Bonneykate

Huh. I wondered what all those helicopters that I heard last night were.

JacqueMehoff

why would gas in legal gas containers be suspicious?

if it were a pick up truck or construction vehicle, those containers would be strapped by a bungee cord outside the auto. same with propane tanks.

Think2wice

You know what, bring on the paranoia, if only to further the cause of congestion pricing and keep out these "suspicious", thick-headed motorheads who insist on taking unnecessary trips into Manhattan. Save money, raise revenue.

sssocialservice

The Buzzcocks were amazing..They are also playing out on LI at the CRAZY DONKEY on Saturday..

The poor guy who's car this was..I hope you enjoyed the show..and It will be something to talk about for years..

Gothampc

The new NYPD theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOzdfaEPaR0

hotstepper

why not keep extra gas in the backseat? player is obviously not getting any tail in that bitchin' 91 Cutlass.

robingee

Gas in the backseat seems pretty dangerous; why not the trunk?

Spirit of 76

If his living is moving lawns, I would expect his lawn mower and/or other equipment take up the trunk.

JacqueMehoff

darn it, I need a small engine for my motorized bike project.

hotstepper

because the trunk is crammed with old Doc Martens, a crappy electric guitar with sticker-encrusted speakers, and a leather jacket studded with patches, safety pins, and spikes.

dkim2015

What do i get? Whoa oh what do i get?

grizzzly

your windows blown out by cops and your car searched by robots

psquire

+3

ides_of_march

Good thing it wasn't an Anthrax concert, Homeland Insecurity would have had the biohazard suits out.

psquire

+2

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

I knew this "if you see something, say something" was going to be overused. damn. people don't see anything today and ruin my commute home. It's friday.

BillyShears

Woah, woah, woah! There was a Buzzcocks concert last night?

Dammit. :/

ItchyGoiter

It's ridiculous how sensitive everyone is, but this guy must be completely oblivious to not realize that someone was going to panic over exposed gas containers in the back seat. Just put a damn blanket over them.

jt10000

OMG OMG there's a guy with a knife in there!

Yeah, it's a restaurant kitchen.

OMG vehicles with gas in them are on the George Washington bridge!

Yeah, they're called cars.

jt10000

No we have to go around hiding things that are perfectly legal?

This security theatre has got to stop. Refuse to be terrorized.

RevWaldo

The Buzzcocks actually stopped in the middle of a song to ask, "Does anyone have a 1991 Cutlass?"

Awesome. You gotta feel bad for the owner but at least he has a great story to tell for the rest of his life. "Did I ever tell you about the time..."

Kojak

True, but a 1991 Cutlass??? If I was him I'd sneak out and fly to Pakistan to escape the shame.

I do hope the NYPD will pay to fix his car.

Gothampc

Hey, some people have to make choices in life. Tickets to the Buzzcocks or a newer car. It's not an easy choice.

longacre

I wonder if the make/year of the car contributed to the NYPD's concern. Terrorists don't usually use late model BMW's to blow stuff up because they're frikkin expensive, they use cars they find in the junkyard for $500, i.e. a 1991 Cutlass.

jaycjay

"Terrorists don't usually use late model BMW's to blow stuff up because they're frikkin expensive, they use cars they find in the junkyard for $500"

Usually? Where'd you find the stats on that?