A Web site called Northeast Intelligence Network has a few more details on an odd story today in The Dallas Morning News about a maintenance man calling authorities after finding a large cache of weapons in an apartment in a high-rise downtown. The News reported that a water leak led to the discovery of an empty rocket tube, dummy hand grenades and several semi-automatic rifles that apparently belonged to a tenant who was moving into a loft in the Mosaic Building at 300 North Akard.
Steve Thompson and Jason Trahan quoted Tom Crowley, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as saying the guns were “legal, which means they weren’t fully automatic, and he was not prohibited from owning them, meaning he was not a convicted felon.” Thus the tenant might not face any charges for owning the weapons, according to Dallas Deputy Chief Vincent Golbeck. “It still raises the suspicion: Why does a person have these types of weapons?” However Golbeck said the child exploitation unit would follow up on possible child pornography found in the apartment.
Then there's the NIN item, which quotes an unnamed "federal source" who told the site "the apartment is rented by a Palestinian or Middle Eastern male who is known to make frequent trips to the Middle East." Hey, sounds like somebody's threat level just got a little elevated.
According to the site's "source," the man "recently returned to Dallas today after a trip to the Middle East, according to authorities." Keep in mind, this is from a Web site that says it offers “terrorism news, information and analysis” from a network of “veteran, licensed professional investigators, analysts, military affairs specialists and researchers who have combined their resources in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by Islamic terrorists." So, maybe it was a slow news day. NIN also notes that the apartment is located "near the federal building in Dallas."
Apparently, the info about the Middle East travels came from the police report, because the father of the man renting the apartment disputed that detail when he spoke with KTVT-Channel 11. According to the CBS affiliate, "He said his son has never even been out of the country." Channel 11 also notes that while "officials said there is no reason to suspect terrorism as a motive, the North Texas Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation."
Then, there's always the kiddie porn to answer for. --Glenna Whitley
