threat

Published on: January 25, 2018

Man Called CNN and Threatened Shooting Spree Over “Fake News”

During a two day period, a man from Michigan was accused of placing a number of phone calls to CNN headquarters and threatening to shoot the employees for reporting what he believes is fake news.

Between January 9 and 10 CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, reportedly received 22 phone calls, four of which containing threats against their station employees. The caller, later identified as 22-year-old Brandon Griesemer from Novi, Michigan, allegedly spoke of bringing firearms to the building and shooting staff members due to his belief that they are a source of fake news distribution. He also made derogatory comments against black and Jewish people.

One of the investigators employed by CNN traced the phone number of the calls and discovered that it belonged to Griesemer’s father. While recording a call that was placed to the number the investigator spoke with a man who said his name was Brandon. When the calls making threats to the station were compared to the recorded call by the investigator it was determined that the voice sounded very similar.

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Published on: January 16, 2013

Dad Charged With Making Terrorist Threats At School

by Staycie R. Sena

With frequent school shootings in the news, some parents want to keep their kids safe by ensuring their school’s security is adequate. One father’s attempt at testing the school’s security in Celina, TX got him arrested.

Ron Miller allegedly walked up to a greeter at his child’s school and said, “I am a gunman. My target is inside of the building. I’m going in the building. You stop me.” At that point, he supposedly entered the school building, unchallenged, and began pointing at people. With each person he pointed to, he allegedly said, “You’re dead.” After reportedly pointing at a few people in this manner, he left.

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Published on: March 9, 2010

Can’t Buy Me Love (or silence)

by Staycie R. Sena

David Letterman can sleep better tonight. Joe Halderman, the man accused of extorting Letterman for $2 million, has plead guilty. Halderman was accused of extortion after demanding $2 million from the late-night star, lest he divulge his various affairs with co-workers. Halderman’s criminal defense lawyers worked out a deal which requires that he plead guilty to felony second-degree grand larceny, spend 6 months in jail, complete 1000 hours of community service and complete 5 years of probation. Though they minimized the jail time, Halderman’s criminal lawyers could do nothing about the 27-year career at CBS that Halderman flushed down the drain with his threats.

Extortion is a curious animal. Blogs and reader comments expressing sympathy for Letterman and wanting a stiffer penalty for Halderman abound. Does extortion mitigate an extra-marital affair? Would we have felt sorry for Tiger Woods if someone threatened to expose his sordid soirees? And for the philosophically-inclined, here’s a question a friend once asked:

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