Nation in brief: Man indicted for threats to black men
An Ohio man has been indicted on charges that he threatened to blow up the U.S. Supreme Court and attack black men, including a justice on the court, according to an indictment filed in federal court in Cleveland on Wednesday.
David Tuason, 46, targeted black men known to affiliate with white women, well-known white women who had relationships with black men, and children of mixed-race parents, federal authorities said. Tuason sent approximately 200 threats, by mail and e-mail, over the course of 20 years, said acting U.S. Attorney William J. Edwards.
Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg confirmed that a threat was made against Clarence Thomas but refused further comment. Thomas is the only black justice on the court.
Edwards said a former Cleveland Cavaliers player and his family members were among those threatened, but he declined to name the player.
According to the indictment, one of the letters refers to an “LN,” mentions the Cavaliers and was sent last year to a northeast Ohio high school.
The school is where the daughter of Larry Nance, a former All-Star who played for the Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns, is a student and accomplished athlete. Attempts to reach Nance for comment late Wednesday were unsuccessful.
New York
Cops to be tested for steroid abuse
The New York Police Department will soon begin randomly testing its 36,000 officers for steroid abuse in light of allegations that a criminal ring was supplying the drug to pumped-up officers.
Police officials insisted Wednesday that the decision to test for anabolic steroids – first reported in the New York Post – doesn’t reflect a concern about widespread abuse at the nation’s largest police department.
Instead, they said they wanted to drive home the point that using steroids without a prescription is illegal.
Since the NYPD already tests for narcotics, it “only makes sense to include steroids,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a statement.
The department plans to begin the urine testing, expected to cost about $1 million a year, in July. Currently, officers are selected at random and tested for heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs using hair samples.
East Lansing, Mich.
Disturbance leads to suspensions
Six Michigan State University students have been suspended following what police characterized as a riot near campus last weekend, the school said Wednesday.
The students, who weren’t identified, violated a disorderly conduct policy, the school said.
A party involving 3,000 to 4,000 people had to be broken up by tear gas after police were pelted with bottles and rocks early Sunday. University spokesman Terry Denbow, citing privacy concerns, didn’t say if the suspended students were among 28 students who were arrested after the disturbance.