Posted on 01/18/2005 10:16:24 PM PST by Timeout
What is sure to go down as the most exhaustive and publicized investigation of tire slashings in Milwaukee history will soon end with felony charges - possibly by the end of the week.
Sources close to the probe said this week that officials have finished questioning everybody involved in the election day incident, including Democratic Party staffers in New York, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland. Those activists had traveled to Milwaukee to help with Sen. John Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign.
The two most high-profile suspects - Michael Pratt, son of former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt, and Sowande Omokunde, son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - are still in the mix of those who could face charges.
After all of the police and FBI interviews, sources have indicated that no out-of-state individuals are expected to be charged with slashing the tires of 20 vans and cars rented by the state Republican Party to schlep party faithful to the polls. That seems to mean that Virginia resident Opel Simmons III, the first guy arrested in the case, can breathe easy.
Sources indicated that Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann could file a criminal complaint this week. But with investigators and cops still putting the finishing touches on the probe, charges could be pushed back into next week.
McCann and David Feiss, the assistant DA overseeing the investigation, declined to answer questions but said the case is nearing completion and a charging decision will be made soon. Feiss said he is still waiting to receive some FBI reports.
This has been the most watched vandalism investigation in city history since shortly after it happened, when the Journal Sentinel broke the story online and it was picked up by the national media as an election day scandal. We later broke the news in this column that the cops wanted to question the sons of two of the city's most prominent Democrats.
Michael Pratt, who led Kerry's Milwaukee campaign, and Omokunde, also known as Supreme Solar Allah, were later arrested. Both men turned themselves in, were questioned briefly and were released.
Three other state Democrats have been arrested and released by Milwaukee police in the investigation: Lewis Gibson Caldwell III, 28, and Lavelle Mohammad, 35, both of Milwaukee; and Justin J. Howell, 20, of Racine.
The police probe started on the morning of Nov. 2, when officials discovered that vandals had cut about two dozen tires on 20 vehicles rented by the Republican Party. The vehicles were parked in the 7100 block of W. Capitol Drive.
A guard reported seeing a man sprinting from the scene that morning, police said. That night, police arrested Simmons, a veteran Democratic activist who was in town drumming up support for Kerry.
Sources said the damage to the vehicles was well in excess of $2,500 - the minimum required to merit a felony. Republican Party officials have put the figure at more than $4,000.
One politically astute lawyer familiar with the investigation said a steady drumbeat of Republican criticism about the pace of the investigation may push Democrat McCann and his assistants to show no mercy.
"Like anybody else, they don't want to be criticized," said the lawyer. "They're Democrats, and they don't want to be criticized for not going after Democrats.
"I'm sure it's had some impact on them."
Added pressure on McCann's office comes from U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, a Republican who is also weighing whether to charge the tire-slashers with a federal crime. It would be harder, though, to make a federal case because Biskupic would have to show that the slashers did the damage to prevent people from going to the polls.
Biskupic has earned a reputation for aggressively putting corrupt politicians behind bars. McCann, by contrast, has few political notches on his belt.
Despite having spent 21/2 months on the probe, police and investigators don't yet have a clear understanding of why the vandals thought cutting up the GOP tires was such a brilliant idea. That could be because there was no criminal genius behind this sophomoric stunt.
Quipped one source, "Nothing about this screams Phi Beta Kappa."
Quipped one source, "Nothing about this screams Phi Beta Kappa."
Hey, these are RATS we're talking about. No one ever accused them of being SMART! LOL!
Just saw that in my county's Republican party newsletter. Ugh ugh ugh ugh.
Bookmarked
No, of course not.
But how about Ohio? All that Republican fraud.
These Democrats are truly sick people.
No doubt they fear Holy Water.
"These Democrats are truly sick people."
They convince themselves we are NAZIs to justify acts of violence against us. And I don't think that will end before they kill someone.
Check out the names of some of these individuals. Sounds like Al Queda to me.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1236613/posts
When Goons Attack-Bullies Storm Republican Office ( vandalism, shooting, more-)
various FR links | 10-06-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
Posted on 10/06/2004 5:02:35 AM CDT by backhoe
Thanks!
If it were Republicans being charged, this lead wouldn't have made it into the story.
Added pressure on McCann's office comes from U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, a Republican who is also weighing whether to charge the tire-slashers with a federal crime. It would be harder, though, to make a federal case because Biskupic would have to show that the slashers did the damage to prevent people from going to the polls.
Well wwhat do they think the motive was then? Of course it was to keep them from transporting voters to the polls! Geez, can we get real here?
The name 'Supreme Solar Allah' ought to look pretty good emblazoned on a prison jump suit.
Exactly!
NO ONE SAID THEY WERE SMART, just criminals!
Products of government schools.
Yep, we don't call 'em DUmbocrats for nothing!
"....Omokunde, also known as Supreme Solar Allah." This certainly sounds like someone you would want involved in a political campaign.
BTTT!!!!!!
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