Federal agents in Mississippi arrested a martial arts instructor early Saturday as part of an investigation into the mailing of ricin-laced letters to President Obama and two other officials.
[h=6]Thomas Wells/Daily Journal, via Reuters[/h]J. Everett Dutschke spoke on his cellphone Tuesday while his property was searched by federal authorities in Tupelo, Miss.
The man, J. Everett Dutschke, was taken into custody without incident at his home in Tupelo, Miss., around 12:50 a.m., said Deborah Madden, a spokeswoman for the F.B.I. in Jackson, Miss.
Mr. Dutschke’s arrest came after criminal charges were dropped on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Paul Kevin Curtis, an celebrity impersonator who said he had been framed by Mr. Dutschke, a longtime personal rival.
This month, President Obama; Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi; and Sadie Holland, a judge in Lee County in Mississippi, received threatening letters postmarked Memphis and filled with a white powder. Tests confirmed that the powder was ricin, a poison made from castor beans that can be lethal.
The letters read: “Maybe I have your attention now even if that means someone must die. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance.” They were signed: “I am KC and I approve this message,” a phrase that Mr. Curtis had used on his Facebook page.
Mr. Curtis, 45, was arrested and charged, but was freed days later after the F.B.I. said it could find no evidence that he was behind the plot. The investigation then turned toward Mr. Dutschke, who lawyers for Mr. Curtis said had framed their client.
Last week F.B.I. agents search Mr. Dutschke’s house.
[h=6]Thomas Wells/Daily Journal, via Reuters[/h]J. Everett Dutschke spoke on his cellphone Tuesday while his property was searched by federal authorities in Tupelo, Miss.
The man, J. Everett Dutschke, was taken into custody without incident at his home in Tupelo, Miss., around 12:50 a.m., said Deborah Madden, a spokeswoman for the F.B.I. in Jackson, Miss.
Mr. Dutschke’s arrest came after criminal charges were dropped on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Paul Kevin Curtis, an celebrity impersonator who said he had been framed by Mr. Dutschke, a longtime personal rival.
This month, President Obama; Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi; and Sadie Holland, a judge in Lee County in Mississippi, received threatening letters postmarked Memphis and filled with a white powder. Tests confirmed that the powder was ricin, a poison made from castor beans that can be lethal.
The letters read: “Maybe I have your attention now even if that means someone must die. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance.” They were signed: “I am KC and I approve this message,” a phrase that Mr. Curtis had used on his Facebook page.
Mr. Curtis, 45, was arrested and charged, but was freed days later after the F.B.I. said it could find no evidence that he was behind the plot. The investigation then turned toward Mr. Dutschke, who lawyers for Mr. Curtis said had framed their client.
Last week F.B.I. agents search Mr. Dutschke’s house.