FBI targets suspect Home searched in connection with robbery, collar bomb

GoErie.com ^ | 9/6/03 | Ed Palattella and Kevin Flowers

[Dane]

The FBI on Friday zeroed in on a 46-year-old Erie man who described himself as "a person of interest" in the bombing death of pizza deliveryman Brian Wells.

The man said he had nothing to do with the Wells case, and said he had never spoken to Wells. The man's live-in girlfriend said she is Wells' cousin.

[Dane]

.

[battousai]

"I go to church every Sunday. What do you think the church community is going to feel when they see stuff like this? "

I'd think he'd raise more eyebrows over his "live in" girlfriend? but thats just me...

[WestPacSailor]

"I will be 47 in December, and I have never known this man in my existence,"

"Existence" being the biggest word he knew, he felt compelled to use it, albeit incorrectly. I wonder how long before he learns the meaning of "incarcerate"?

And what the heck is it with the new found title "person of interest". Either one is a suspect, or one is wanted for questioning in conection with..., but "person of interest"??? What the heck is that?

[Cboldt]

"person of interest" is a legal/technical term. It's limbo. Calling a person a "suspect" has legal ramifications, such as right to public defender, etc. But, in principle, during an investigation, a "person of interest" is a suspect, i.e., seriouly considered as a candidate for prosecution, until facts rule otherwise.

[Principled]

So as a "person of interest", one may choose to NOT answer questions, etc... until they become classified as a suspect - then they can request a lawyer be present?

I don't know how I'd react if I were suddenly a "person of interest" in some random case of which I had no involvement (although that doesn't seem to be the case in this story).

With the railroading that goes on, I may be inclined to shut my mouth.

[WestPacSailor]

With the railroading that goes on, I may be inclined to shut my mouth.

Just ask Richard Jewel ("person of interest" in the Olympic Park bombing), or the scientist who is a "person of interest" in the anthrax letters. Neither of them was ever charged but their lives were ruined simply because they were labled a "person of interest".

[FourtySeven]

veeeryy interestink

[Cboldt]

I don't know how I would react either. "The state" is a powerful force, bureaucratic in nature, willing and capable of inflicting irreparable harm.

I think I'd be responsive to questions and reasonable requests for production/search. I know I would shun the media. Not even a "no comment."

[Dane]

Just ask Richard Jewel ("person of interest" in the Olympic Park bombing), or the scientist who is a "person of interest" in the anthrax letters. Neither of them was ever charged but their lives were ruined simply because they were labled a "person of interest".

The FBI, the paper and reporters are playing it smart, by not releasing his name.

Also he is the one who did talk to the paper and his live in girlfriend was on the answering machine, according to the report.

JMO, but I find it hard to beleive that he didn't know who Richard Wells was, especially since Wells was giving rides to his live in girlfriend.

[Lucy Lake]

Pinging.

[Cboldt]

Oh -- addressing your primary points -- one always has the right (ability) to be mum, and to have a lawyer present, no matter what (military detention excepted).

[LibKill]

This is the strangest case I can remember of recent years.

It seems that clues are mighty thin on the ground.

[Rudder]

From what I can tell, it seems the police did not attempt to get any information about the perp from the victim before his death.

[MissAmericanPie]

You would think it would raise a few eyebrows.

[LibKill]

From what I can tell, it seems the police did not attempt to get any information about the perp from the victim before his death.

I get the same idea, but I really can't blame them. This had to be the strangest situation of their lives and they were probably having all they could do just to cope with it.

Also, the victim was not very talkative except on the subject of getting the bomb off his neck. Can't blame him for that either.

Finally, we don't really know at this point if the victim was purely a victim or a very stupid accomplice.

[Dane]

This is the strangest case I can remember of recent years.

It seems that clues are mighty thin on the ground

I agree, especially with the collar bomb, a co-worker of Wells's dying of an apparent overdose a couple of days after the robbery, and everything else in this case makes this seem like a mystery novel.

[blackdog]

Draining ponds of "interest" I see.

If this was self inflicted as a suicide, I'd say the issue is self limiting. I'd say if this was the work of some serious "screw the system types" we'll be seeing it again soon. Either way the FBI should quietly observe from a distance. The more they try to pin it on something that makes us all feel safe, the more suspect their motives.

Plenty of homegrown white trash in Erie to work with. Much like the suburbs of Atlanta, Andrews, North Carolina, Waco Texas.

[EggsAckley]

it seems the police did not attempt to get any information about the perp from the victim before his death.

.....as far as we know......

[EggsAckley]

Plenty of homegrown white trash in Erie to work with

I thought the victim was black.

[blackdog]

Hmmmmm.....I did not know that?

Can you say white supremecy group?