Mississippi man targeted in ricin letters investigation arrested
Everett Dutschke walks to a neighbor's house Tuesday, as he waits for federal authorities to finish searching his home.
U.S. federal agents arrested a Mississippi martial arts instructor on Saturday 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 U.S. marshals at his Tupelo home early morning after his home and business were searched.
The arrest took place without incident, the city's police chief, Tony Carleton, said.
It was not immediately known if Dutschke has been charged in the ricin investigation.
Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as members of an anti-terrorist response team from the Mississippi National Guard, 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.
Agents had Dutschke's home under surveillance Friday afternoon and evening and moved to arrest him about 1am local time.
Prosecutors dropped charges on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Elvis impersonator Paul Kevin Curtis, who was released from jail after a search of his home in nearby Corinth revealed no incriminating evidence.
Ricin, which is made from castor beans, can be deadly to humans and is considered a potential terror weapon, particularly if refined into an aerosol form. rte.ie
HIGHLIGHTS
Letters addressed to Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Democratic President Obama were retrieved last week at off-site mail facilities before reaching their intended victims. The discovery added another layer of anxiety as authorities dealt with bombings at the Boston Marathon.
Dutschke was recently indicted in Lee County on three molestation charges, his attorney confirmed. The indictments allege that he fondled three females under the age of 16, according to Northeastern Mississippi Daily Journal.
In 2007, Dutschke ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate against Stephen Holland, an incumbent Democratic state representative from the Tupelo area. Holland's mother, Sadie, is the judge to whom one of the ricin-tainted letters was mailed this month. Reuters
AGB/HJFBI arrests man in toxic letters probe
Everett Dutschke walks to a neighbor's house Tuesday, as he waits for federal authorities to finish searching his home.U.S. federal agents arrested a Mississippi martial arts instructor on Saturday 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 U.S. marshals at his Tupelo home early morning after his home and business were searched.
The arrest took place without incident, the city's police chief, Tony Carleton, said.
It was not immediately known if Dutschke has been charged in the ricin investigation.
Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as members of an anti-terrorist response team from the Mississippi National Guard, 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.
Agents had Dutschke's home under surveillance Friday afternoon and evening and moved to arrest him about 1am local time.
Prosecutors dropped charges on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Elvis impersonator Paul Kevin Curtis, who was released from jail after a search of his home in nearby Corinth revealed no incriminating evidence.
Ricin, which is made from castor beans, can be deadly to humans and is considered a potential terror weapon, particularly if refined into an aerosol form. rte.ie
HIGHLIGHTS
Letters addressed to Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Democratic President Obama were retrieved last week at off-site mail facilities before reaching their intended victims. The discovery added another layer of anxiety as authorities dealt with bombings at the Boston Marathon.
Dutschke was recently indicted in Lee County on three molestation charges, his attorney confirmed. The indictments allege that he fondled three females under the age of 16, according to Northeastern Mississippi Daily Journal.
In 2007, Dutschke ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate against Stephen Holland, an incumbent Democratic state representative from the Tupelo area. Holland's mother, Sadie, is the judge to whom one of the ricin-tainted letters was mailed this month. Reuters
AGB/HJFBI arrests man in toxic letters probe