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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Crime Boss Nabbed by Navy Cruiser |
| 2004-03-24 |
| MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51) assisted its embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 101 March 21 in the capture of Jose Miguel Battle, the suspected leader of an organized crime outfit, while he was aboard a cruise ship in the central Caribbean. The U.S. Department of Justice requested the Coast Guard’s assistance in capturing Battle after 21 members of the violent crime family, including Battle’s father, were rounded up March 18 by federal and local agencies in an operation coordinated by the Miami-Dade Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida after federal indictments were issued for them. Four of those indicted remained at large, including Battle. Authorities feared that he would be able to flee and avoid prosecution if he were not taken into custody before the ship’s next port call in Costa Rica. With the close cooperation of the Celebrity Summit’s captain, parent company Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines, and approval of the ship’s state of registry, the Bahamas, an operation was quickly put together to allow for the safe detention and removal of Battle. Shortly after midnight, TSG was directed to rendezvous with the cruise ship Celebrity Summit to serve the arrest warrant. When in proximity, Gates established bridge-to-bridge contact with the cruise ship and coordinated LEDET embarkation of Summit. At approximately 3:30 a.m., the LEDET team went aboard Celebrity Summit and briefly met with the ship’s captain and security force. After confirming the location of the suspect, the Coast Guard boarding team was able to safely and silently secure Battle and transported him by small boat back to Thomas S. Gates at about 5:15 a.m. |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |
| #13 Damn! Nothing this exciting happened on my cruise. I wuz robbed! |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-03-25 12:05:45 AM |
| #12 NAVY: "We'd like your cooperation" Captain: "I'm nut sure I can do this" NAVY: "We'd hate to see you run aground" Captain: "Run argound? In 6000 feet of water?" NAVY: "Exactly." |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-03-24 6:45:57 PM |
| #11 With the close cooperation of the Celebrity Summit’s captain, parent company Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines, and approval of the ship’s state of registry, the Bahamas, an operation was quickly put together to allow for the safe detention and removal of Battle. The little weasel didn't put up one? (a Battle, get it? Har har har) Frack. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-03-24 2:12:35 PM |
| #10 If the Japanese had handled this, they would've infiltrated the snatch team aboard in the guise of a musical comedy troupe. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-03-24 1:48:57 PM |
| #9 "Mr. Battle? It's your 3:30 wake up call for limbo lessons." |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-03-24 1:26:30 PM |
| #8 So, will the TSG put into Norfolk with Battle swinging from the yardarm? The Iranians did this some years back. The Gates should at least stencil an 'Al Capone' on the bridge wing. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-03-24 1:18:43 PM |
| #7 ...If the skipper of the Gates has any style at all, he'll come back into Norfolk with the Jolly Roger flying. Noticing I've seen ZERO mention of this on any of the news sites - would have thought something as throughly cool as this would have been front page, top-of-the-site. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-3-24 10:39:26 AM |
| #6 Does this vessel even have a suitable yardarm? I know they still have serviceable rope on board. The gentleman Machinists mates would just need the necessary measurements and or length of life requirements. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-3-24 10:22:17 AM |
| #5 The Love Boat, making another run... Come on board for adventure... |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-3-24 9:45:22 AM |
| #4 "Cap'n Stubing! Cap'n Stubing!" "What is it, Gopher?" "I was just returning to my cabin from a night of futile carousing for nubile guest stars on the Lido Deck, when I looked out the porthole and -- damn!" |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-3-24 9:24:34 AM |
| #3 "Drop yer guns, Battle! We got ya covered!" with... 1 MK 7 MOD 3 AEGIS Weapons System 2 MK26 missile launcher 2 Harpoon Missile Quad-Canister Launchers 2 MK 32 MOD 14 Torpedo Tubes - 6 MK-46 torpedoes 2 MK 45 5"/54-Caliber Lightweight Gun Mounts 1 MK 15 MOD 2 Close-in-Weapons Systems (CIWS) (2 Mounts) 2 50-Caliber Machine Guns |
| Posted by: snellenr 2004-3-24 9:22:24 AM |
| #2 I don't think Royal Caribbean mentions this in the brochure. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-3-24 9:18:20 AM |
| #1 So, will the TSG put into Norfolk with Battle swinging from the yardarm? I have heard that this picturesque practice was common and reputedly effective in the 18th century, a token of one's determination. Does this vessel even have a suitable yardarm? I know they still have serviceable rope on board. One of its numerous radar/ESM masts would to in a pinch I guess. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-3-24 9:08:00 AM |