Martial arts man arrest in Obama ricin probe
Source: Agencies |
April 28, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
UNITED States federal agents arrested a Mississippi martial arts instructor yesterday, after his home and a former business were searched as part of an investigation into ricin-laced letters sent to President Barack Obama and two other public officials.
Everett Dutschke, 41, was taken into custody by marshals at his Tupelo home early yesterday morning without incident, the city's police chief, Tony Carleton, said.
It was not immediately known if Dutschke has been charged in the ricin investigation.
Dutschke faces other charges related to an April 1 indictment for fondling three different children between ages seven and 16, from 2007 to 2013, according to court records. He was released on US$25,000 bond in that case.
Dutschke's attorney, Lori Basham, did not return calls seeking comment but said earlier in the week that her client denied having anything to do with the ricin letters.
Hazardous material suits
Agents from the FBI and the US Capitol Police, as well as members of an anti-terrorist response team from the Mississippi National Guard, some wearing hazardous material suits, had searched Dutschke's home on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the premises of a former martial arts studio Dutschke ran in the city.
Dutschke was cooperating with federal officials during the searches this week, the attorney said. The agents had Dutschke's home under surveillance on Friday afternoon and evening and moved to arrest him about 1am.
US prosecutors dropped charges on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Elvis impersonator Kevin Curtis, who was released from jail after a search of his home in nearby Corinth revealed no incriminating evidence.
Prosecutors said at the time that the investigation had "revealed new information" but provided no details.
The case has brought extra scrutiny on the FBI almost 12 years after a 2001 letter-borne anthrax attack in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. It took investigators seven years to solve the anthrax case.
Letters addressed to Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Democratic President Barack Obama were retrieved last week at off-site mail facilities before reaching their intended victims. A state judge also received a ricin-laced letter.
Everett Dutschke, 41, was taken into custody by marshals at his Tupelo home early yesterday morning without incident, the city's police chief, Tony Carleton, said.
It was not immediately known if Dutschke has been charged in the ricin investigation.
Dutschke faces other charges related to an April 1 indictment for fondling three different children between ages seven and 16, from 2007 to 2013, according to court records. He was released on US$25,000 bond in that case.
Dutschke's attorney, Lori Basham, did not return calls seeking comment but said earlier in the week that her client denied having anything to do with the ricin letters.
Hazardous material suits
Agents from the FBI and the US Capitol Police, as well as members of an anti-terrorist response team from the Mississippi National Guard, some wearing hazardous material suits, had searched Dutschke's home on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the premises of a former martial arts studio Dutschke ran in the city.
Dutschke was cooperating with federal officials during the searches this week, the attorney said. The agents had Dutschke's home under surveillance on Friday afternoon and evening and moved to arrest him about 1am.
US prosecutors dropped charges on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Elvis impersonator Kevin Curtis, who was released from jail after a search of his home in nearby Corinth revealed no incriminating evidence.
Prosecutors said at the time that the investigation had "revealed new information" but provided no details.
The case has brought extra scrutiny on the FBI almost 12 years after a 2001 letter-borne anthrax attack in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. It took investigators seven years to solve the anthrax case.
Letters addressed to Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Democratic President Barack Obama were retrieved last week at off-site mail facilities before reaching their intended victims. A state judge also received a ricin-laced letter.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
