Day 7 of Alabama survivalist prepper stand-off, memorial service held for bus driver

Dale County, AL, United States (4E) – The 65-year-old armed man continued to hold a five-year-old boy hostage in an underground bunker in Dale County, Alabama for the sixth day while the memorial service for the 66-year-old bus driver was held Sunday.

Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman Paul Bresson said they maintained an open line of communication with Jimmy Lee Dykes as he continued to make the environment as comfortable as possible for the child.

Bresson added that Dykes allowed the delivery of food, medicine and comfort items to the child including a red Hot Wheels car and some Cheezits crackers.

The boy suffers from Asperger’s syndrome and attention deficit disorder, said State Representative Steve Clouse.

Dykes, a Vietnam veteran and a retired truck driver, got on the bus Tuesday about 3:40 p.m. near a church in Midland City, and shot and killed Charles Albert Poland Jr., the bus driver, before taking the boy as hostage.

Poland was hailed as a hero and was remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather during the funeral service.

Authorities said Dykes appeared to be inside a possible tornado bunker with food, blankets, heater and electricity.

Mike Creel, a neighbor, said the suspect has been living there for about two years and he started building the shelter as soon as he moved in.

Authorities have not released the suspect’s possible motive and have not divulged any demands made by the hostage taker.

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