What's next, the Spanish Inquisition!?
Agents seize truckloads of explosives, weapons in Alabama raids
Simultaneous raids carried out in at least two Alabama counties today turned up truckloads of explosives and weapons -- including caches of live hand grenades -- from what authorities are calling a militia group.
Teams of federal, state and local law enforcement agents executed four search warrants in DeKalb and Jefferson counties beginning at 6 a.m., so far arresting five people. The raids took place in several areas in DeKalb County -- forcing the closing of Collinsville High School on U.S. 11 because of traffic concerns-- and in Trussville.
Authorities had to rent a U-Haul truck to haul away the explosives and weapons from a house in Trussville.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives launched an investigation into the reported militia group seven weeks ago, according to a federal source. Officials said the group had not made not any specific threats, but said they worked to quickly shut down the group because of its heavy firepower. One federal official said the group had enough armaments to outfit a small army. [...]
I would like to see that second sentence rewritten--"The raids took place in Trussville and in several areas in DeKalb County, forcing the closing of Collinsville High School on U.S. 11 because of traffic concerns." The way it was originally composed almost made it read as if a school in Trussville was also shut down.
Good thing they have editors. Which also helps with the little bit of editorializing that manages to sneak into the article at the end.
Be interesting to see which one of my neighbors this turns out to be.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 26, 2007 01:52 PMI will admit, I had to read that sentence several times - at first it sounded as if the HS in Trussville was also closed, and then it looked like the start of an incomplete sentence.
Since Johnny can't read anyway, why go to the expense of hiring editors?
Live grenades?! I hope these are far-away neighbors.
Posted by: Diane at April 26, 2007 01:59 PM"The only clues found at the site were a vat of cornmeal batter, recipes for various corn-dipped food items, and a mysterious brochure about the health benefits of eating manatee signed by a Dr. W."
Posted by: skinnydan at April 26, 2007 02:13 PMSomehow I'm disturbed by the idea that the cops don't have their own trucks and have to send a guy off to U-haul to rent one. Isn't there something in those contracts banning users from transporting weapons?
Posted by: skinnydan at April 26, 2007 02:14 PMMe, too, Diane. Although as Skinnydan points out, you sorta have to wonder exactly how safe it is to rent a U-Haul and carry out live explosives in it. Obviously, there aren't enough details right now about the materials they seized, but I really have to believe that this material either wasn't quite as deadly as it sounds, or else the ATF figures hauling explosives through town is a good idea.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 26, 2007 02:24 PMMike Hale must not have been involved - he would have blown all that stuff up in place, LIVE on the 6:00 news. For the children!
Posted by: skillzy at April 26, 2007 02:27 PMYeah, I know. Bummer.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 26, 2007 02:34 PMOh, and as an aside, the print and broadcast media continue to report that the ATF rented a U-Haul, apparently because none of them can be bothered to actually watch the video from the raid in Trussville, and further they must think that every single rental truck in the world is from U-Haul. In fact, the truck was from Metro Truck Rental, which I know because it was printed in gigantic black letters on the side of a white truck. U-Haul is not a generic term.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 27, 2007 08:08 AM