[sadly, the poster (secr) of this message seems to think killing innocent people in the US is ok, but this news item is not bad news - Will] ----- forwarded message ----- Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 15:54:39 +0200 From: secr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: INDIANA tree-spiking charges DROPPED!!!!!!! ----- forwarded message ----- Subject: [EF!] INDIANA tree-spiking charges DROPPED!!!!!!! Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 06:11:26 -0700 (PDT) From: BLACK WIDOW <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Charges in tree-spiking case dropped By Steve Hinnefeld, Herald-Times Staff Writer Tree-spiking charges have been dismissed against Frank Ambrose, a prominent activist accused of being part of the Earth Liberation Front. Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann dropped the charges Wednesday but said they could be filed again later. "It depends on the investigation," Salzmann said, adding that police are still investigating the tree-spiking incident and other acts attributed to ELF. Salzmann declined to answer questions about why the charges were dropped. In a prepared statement, he said: "As a result of further investigation, it appears that the conspiracy involving the spiking of trees in Monroe and Brown counties is more extensive than it first appeared. Therefore, we believe that it is in the interests of justice to dismiss this case at this time," he said. Attempts Wednesday to reach Ambrose, who now lives in Detroit, and his attorney Richard Kammen were not successful. Ambrose, 27, was charged in January with driving 10-inch nails into trees at a logging site at Morgan-Monroe State Forest in June 2000. Tree-spiking is a felony and carries a standard prison sentence of 1 1/2 years. Activists, particularly in the West, have used the tactic to try to discourage logging. Ambrose, who had been active with above-ground efforts to stop logging on state forests, denied the charges. "They don't have the right person because I didn't do it," he said the day he was arrested. The arrest drew national attention, with some authorities saying it was the first arrest in connection with the secretive Earth Liberation Front. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Department of Natural Resources employees saw a car registered to Ambrose at Morgan-Monroe State Forest around the time the trees were spiked. State conservation officers said spikes similar to the ones used in the forest were sold at the Bloomington Lowe's store shortly before the spiked trees were discovered. A store videotape showed a man who looked like Ambrose buying the spikes, they said. Police seized tools, gloves and other items from Ambrose's apartment in July 2000 and sent them to an FBI lab for analysis. But the case didn't move quickly to trial. It was scheduled in April, then delayed. Indiana Department of Natural Resources spokesman Stephen Sellers said Wednesday he was aware of the decision to drop the charge but would not comment. "My understanding is, the investigation into illegal activity continues," he said. The Morgan-Monroe tree-spiking was one of several local acts last year for which the Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility. Others included an arson fire at a luxury home, tree spiking in Yellowwood State Forest and vandalism of logging and road-building equipment. Reporter Steve Hinnefeld can be reached at 331-4374 or by e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help? Donate cash, emergency relief information http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/US/Emergency_Information/
