DATE=2/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227019
TITLE=F-B-I BIO SUBSTANCE ARRESTS (L) (CQ)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// FIXES END OF 1ST PARA -- THURSDAY MORNING ///
INTRO: POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO MEN IN THE WESTERN U-S STATE OF
NEVADA ON CHARGES OF POSSESSING A BIOLOGICAL AGENT. AS MIKE
O'SULLIVAN REPORTS, OFFICIALS BELIEVE -- BUT HAVE NOT CONFIRMED
-- THE SUBSTANCE IS ANTHRAX, A DANGEROUS BACTERIAL AGENT THAT IS
USED IN CHEMICAL WARFARE.
TEXT: THE TWO MEN -- LARRY WAYNE HARRIS OF LANCASTER, OHIO, AND
WILLIAM LEAVITT, JUNIOR, A PART-TIME RESIDENT OF LAS VEGAS, WERE
ARRESTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN A JOINT OPERATION BY THE FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS --
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS EXPERTS FROM THE U-S ARMY
AND AIR FORCE. BOBBY SILLER, AN AGENT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION OR F-B-I, ANNOUNCED THE ARRESTS THURSDAY MORNING.
/// SILLER ACT ///
IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE IN
POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS BIOLOGICAL CHEMICAL, ANTHRAX.
/// END ACT ///
MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY ANTHRAX IS DANGEROUS TO BOTH ANIMALS AND
HUMANS.
F-B-I AGENT BOBBY SILLER SAYS INVESTIGATORS TOOK MEASURES TO
PREVENT LEAKAGE OF THE MATERIAL, SEALING OFF THE VEHICLE THE MEN
WERE DRIVING IN PLASTIC.
/// SILLER ACT ///
RIGHT NOW I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF
ANY CONTAMINATION ANYWHERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A RESULT
OF THIS INVESTIGATION. AGAIN, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN ALL
THE TIME WAS THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
/// END ACT ///
THE F-B-I SPOKESMAN SAID THE TWO MEN WERE POSSIBLY ON THEIR WAY
TO A MEDICAL CENTER IN THE LAS VEGAS SUBURB OF HENDERSON TO TEST
THE CHEMICAL AGENT.
F-B-I AGENT BOBBY SILLER SAID THERE IS NO INDICATION OF WHAT THE
TARGET MIGHT HAVE BEEN, AND HE HAS NO INFORMATION ON A POSSIBLE
MOTIVE. ONE OF THE MEN, LARRY WAYNE HARRIS, IS ON PROBATION
FROM AN EARLIER CASE FOR RECEIVING A MAIL ORDER SHIPMENT OF THE
BUBONIC PLAGUE GERM. (SIGNED)
NEB/MOS/WDC/PLM/WTW
19-Feb-98 4:49 PM EST (2149 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
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