# Best ways to End the Alabama bunker hostage situation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251 "2013-02-03T20:44:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/1 "2013-02-03T20:44:27Z")
Reports indicate negotiators are talking to the guy through a ventilation tube. Would a can of tear gas shoved down the vent pipe overpower this guy before he could harm the child? Or better yet, pump some gas (tear gas, pepper spray, whatever would work best) from a hose into the vent. CO (Carbon Monoxide) would work really well, except that he’s got a kid in there. What’s the best way to flush this guy out? Other than sitting around for a few months waiting for the bunker’s food rations to run out? Even Hitler’s bunker couldn’t protect him for long once the Russian Troops were outside the door. Probably why he took his own life rather than get captured. Should be some way to flush this nut out in Alabama. Any constructive ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/2 "2013-02-03T21:09:12Z")
Even with a face full of tear gas, I imagine he could still shoot a kid trapped in a bunker with him. [Using stronger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis) stuff to try and knock him out has a bad history, and given that you’d necessarily end up dosing a six-year-old with a dose strong enough to quickly knock out a full grown man, I think the risks of doing permanent damage to the kid would be too high. I don’t think there’s any option other then to talk him out. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/3 "2013-02-03T21:23:08Z")
I wonder if there is anything that could be gassed in that would simply be calming. Might help negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/4 "2013-02-03T21:37:21Z")
Patient negotiations for now. Give him a semi-public limited platform if necessary. I’d also tunnel down and be ready to come through the wall in one minute if they need to use a knock out later on. ---
**Author:** ![activgurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@activgurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/activgurl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/5 "2013-02-03T23:33:23Z")
Nitrous oxide is odorless, colorless. Make him laugh, maybe he’ll unlock the door? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/6 "2013-02-04T00:19:25Z")
Huh?? \ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/7 "2013-02-04T00:26:27Z")
(You could have included a link, y’know…) ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/8 "2013-02-04T00:33:36Z")
okay… wow… > **[Alabama hostage standoff: At the bunker, talks, Cheez-Its and Hot Wheels; in...](https://www.al.com/montgomery/2013/02/midland_city_standoff_at_the_b.html)** > > Much more information learned about suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/9 "2013-02-04T01:14:44Z")
I must have forgotten to paste the link. :smack: I had the story up in a tab. Glad you found it ok. > [@SCAdian](#): > > (You could have included a link, y’know…) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/10 "2013-02-04T01:23:31Z")
> [@Sam\_I\_Am](#): > > I wonder if there is anything that could be gassed in that would simply be calming. Might help negotiations. Apparently [there’s no such thing as a harmles knock-out gas](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638434) . . . > [@activgurl](#): > > Nitrous oxide is odorless, colorless. Make him laugh, maybe he’ll unlock the door? Hemp-smoke would work better, IMO. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/11 "2013-02-04T01:28:11Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > okay.. wow… > > [Alabama hostage standoff: At the bunker, talks, Cheez-Its and Hot Wheels; in town, hero bus driver laid to rest - al.com](http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2013/02/midland_city_standoff_at_the_b.html) According to that article, Jimmy Lee Dykes is an anti-government paranoid. But, who **is** this 5-year-old boy, and what is Dykes’ interest in him? Nothing in the article to suggest he’s a pedo. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/12 "2013-02-04T01:44:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > According to that article, Jimmy Lee Dykes is an anti-government paranoid. But, who **is** this 5-year-old boy, and what is Dykes’ interest in him? Nothing in the article to suggest he’s a pedo. Random hostage choice? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/13 "2013-02-04T01:47:12Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Random hostage choice? That’s my understanding. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/14 "2013-02-04T01:51:14Z")
Maybe there is a drug with very different effects on a 66 year old paranoid vs a 5 year old hillbilly? I’m thinking hallucinogens - frame of reference is everything - a paranoid might see something from which he needs to flee while a child has no such inclinations yet embedded. I can assure you a tunnel is being dug at some distance - underground is quiet - using an auger 5’ away would be impossible to NOT notice. They also have mapped at least the cavity - they may not know of internal obstacles which won’t show on ultrasound. That little pebble which fell down the vent tube… A red light flashing at a certain frequency will trigger seizures in X% of epileptics and \>0% in NON-EPILEPTICS (See opening sequence of _Andromeda Strain_). Maybe a new toy for the kid? Ask him if he’d like a bottle of Jack Daniels - I’m sure the distiller would be happy to run off a one-of-a-kind formula. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/15 "2013-02-04T01:55:14Z")
Don’t [use fentanyl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_theater_hostage_crisis). Patient negotiation looks like the only option. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/16 "2013-02-04T01:57:48Z")
Does he _want_ anything? Why did he take a hostage in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/17 "2013-02-04T02:02:01Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Does he _want_ anything? Why did he take a hostage in the first place? Because a fortified bunker is not completely furnished without one? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/18 "2013-02-04T02:03:26Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Maybe there is a drug with very different effects on a 66 year old paranoid vs a 5 year old hillbilly? > > I’m thinking hallucinogens - frame of reference is everything - a paranoid might see something from which he needs to flee while a child has no such inclinations yet embedded. Wouldn’t risk it. He meet see something he needs to **shoot** at and it might be occupying the same space as the boy. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/19 "2013-02-04T05:17:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > According to that article, Jimmy Lee Dykes is an anti-government paranoid. But, who **is** this 5-year-old boy, and what is Dykes’ interest in him? Nothing in the article to suggest he’s a pedo. From an article a couple days ago. I still haven’t found a detailed description of how he got onto the bus, what the driver did to save the other kids, etc. > [@](#): > > The mother of the 5-year-old boy is ‘hanging on by a thread,’ said a local politician who visited the woman. > > State Rep. Steve Clouse, who represents the Midland City area, said the mother told him that the boy has Asperger’s syndrome as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. > > Read more: [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/03/alabama-standoff-enters-third-day-as-official-says-child-held-hostage/#ixzz2Ju8xHw7A](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/03/alabama-standoff-enters-third-day-as-official-says-child-held-hostage/#ixzz2Ju8xHw7A) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251/20 "2013-02-04T05:47:30Z")
Some jackass responded with > [@](#): > > Wake up people. This is all a hoax by the gun grabbers. Notice there have been no pictures of the “bunker” of “Ethan” or of Dykes? Notice Ethan doesn’t have a last name??? Notice that the so-called parents (really crisis actors) appeared on today and didn’t shed a tear, instead they thanked Dykes for taking care of their boy. Who does that? Don’t believe me [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-end-the-alabama-bunker-hostage-situation/649251.md?page=2)