Officer accused of threatening president bush

Its the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Should we start thinking Gestapo, Hitler and the thought police?
Look closely, wasn't this guy off duty?
Maybe hysteria and fear have reached a new level??
Thanks to who??

Officer Accused Of Threatening President BushBy VALERIE KALFRIN vkalfrin@tampatrib.com Published: Aug 28, 2004
TAMPA - Joseph Mazagwu served in the U.S. Army for 11 years before he passed the background checks and psychological testing required to become a Tampa police officer.
But something he is accused of saying while off duty and picking up his uniform from a Tampa dry cleaner put the Secret Service on his trail, derailed his police career and on Friday landed him in a federal courtroom.
Mazagwu, 35, surrendered to the U.S. Marshals Service on Friday morning after his indictment Thursday on charges of making a threat against the president and making a false statement to a federal agent.
According to police and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill, Mazagwu stopped at the dry cleaner July 15, the day before President Bush visited Tampa.
The dry cleaner's owner asked Mazagwu whether he would be part of the president's security detail. Mazagwu said he ``would not work that under any circumstances,'' O'Neill said, and ``went on a lengthy tirade'' against U.S. policies in Iraq and Africa.
During the outburst, O'Neill said, Mazagwu said words to this effect: ``The president needs to be shot. His father needs to be shot. If someone gave me bullets, I would do that. I would shoot them in the head.''
On July 16, the day Bush visited, the dry cleaner reported Mazagwu's alleged remarks to another Tampa police officer, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said. On July 17, that officer told a lieutenant, who asked the officer to get more details.
On July 19, police Chief Stephen Hogue suspended Mazagwu with pay and took his gun and badge, McElroy said.
The same day, the Secret Service questioned Mazagwu. He denied making the comments, O'Neill said. Confronted with additional information July 30, he apologized, O'Neill said.
Hogue said Mazagwu will be fired.
``I'm highly disappointed,'' he said. ``That is not the conduct we expect of a Tampa police officer, nor will it be tolerated.''
Mazagwu entered the police academy in the spring under the city's scholarship program, which paid his tuition, about $6,500, McElroy said.
He graduated from the academy and was assigned to a four-month training period on the night shift in District 3, which covers downtown Tampa and Ybor City, when he made the alleged comments.
During his visit, Bush spoke at a conference on human trafficking at the Tampa Marriott Waterside and bought Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City.
The alleged comment concerned officials because Mazagwu was a police officer licensed to carry a firearm at all times, O'Neill said. He is also an Army reservist.
Hogue said Mazagwu would not have been part of the president's security detail because of his rookie status. Even so, Hogue said he plans to review the officer's hiring ``to see if we missed anything.''
Mazagwu's personnel application shows he attended high school in Nigeria. His father was a police officer in that country, McElroy said.
If convicted, Mazagwu faces five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each charge.
He was released on $25,000 bail Friday after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun III.
McCoun ordered Mazagwu's passport confiscated and told him he cannot possess or own firearms before his trial. He must have legitimate employment and maintain his residence, the judge said.
Mazagwu did not speak to reporters.
His niece and a friend attended his court appearance but also declined to speak to reporters.
His attorney, Deeann Athan, told McCoun she doubted there was any intent behind the comments.
``I really do think it was a huge misunderstanding,'' she later said.
Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.