Posted on 07/14/2005 7:40:04 AM PDT by newgeezer
Investigators say they found briefcases filled with anti-government material inside a van but no explosives or drugs in Princeton, Illinois, Wednesday afternoon. That's after an explosives scare that allegedly included threats against the president and Washington D.C.
Authorities credit a truck driver for intercepting threatening chatter over CB radio that could lead to more serious charges against Terry Daniel (photo at right), 44, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Tammy Chamberlain knows all about the fear and uncertainty. At the Princeton gas station where she works, police tape surrounds a van. It's a van suspected to be carrying explosives bound for Washington, D.C.
"All the cashiers, I'm sure, it's going to bother everybody now," she said. "It will really make me think, too."
Princeton police arrested Daniel at the gas station. They say he uses several aliases and has a criminal record with prison time in Iowa and Arizona.
"He said he was headed toward Washington, D.C.," said Princeton Police Chief Tom Root. "There were some maps and some documents and other things that lead us to believe that he was heading in that direction."
As authorities evacuate nearby businesses, the bomb squad searches the van and discovers thermos containers with suspicious materials.
"The basic thing that we were concerned about is what may be inside the van, what was his intent and where was he going," Root said.
Authorities aren't taking any chances with Daniel. They want to upgrade his disorderly conduct arrest to more serious terrorism charges.
For those left to watch and wonder, concern about what could have been a close call, for their own safety.
"You have a lot of people coming in saying off the wall stuff," Chamberlain said. "I'm sure I'm going to take it more seriously now than I did."
More seriously than before that van pulled into Princeton.
Friend of yours? ;)
Holy cow, I actually thought that name sounded familiar! But nope, he's NOT my friend!!!
the writings of James Madison?
Good thing I'm moving to Chicago to get away from all these nutjobs/sarc.
"What is it about nut jobs and hygiene?"
I don't know, whenever I watch C-Span the nut-jobs in congress always seem pretty clean. Then again they have a staff to take care of them.
LOL, good point!
Heard this on the news.
Man, and I thought the guys back in Nebraska were nuts.
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