11/27/14, "Alleged plot included bombing Arch, killing St. Louis County prosecutor, Ferguson chief," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, C. Byers and R. Patrick
"Two men indicted last week on federal weapons charges allegedly had plans to bomb the Gateway Arch — and to kill St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch and Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson — the Post-Dispatch has learned.
Sources close to
the investigation were uncertain whether the men had the capability to
carry out the plans, although the two allegedly did buy what they
thought was a pipe bomb in an undercover law enforcement sting.
The
men wanted to acquire two more bombs, the sources said, but could not
afford to do it until one suspect’s girlfriend’s Electronic Benefit
Transfer card was replenished.
An indictment, with no mention of bombs or killings, was returned in federal court here Nov. 19 and unsealed Friday
upon the arrest of Brandon (Muhammad) Orlando Baldwin and Olajuwon Ali Davis.
Their addresses and Baldwin’s age were not available; Davis is 22.
 |
| Muhammad |
The
arrest came three days before McCulloch revealed that a grand jury
would not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the
controversial killing of Michael Brown. The announcement triggered
looting and multiple arsons in Ferguson.
The charges say
that between Nov. 1 and Nov. 13, at the Cabela’s store in Hazelwood,
Baldwin claimed to be buying two Hi-Point .45-caliber pistols for
himself when they were really for another person. Brandon also is known
as Brandon Muhammad, according to court documents, and Davis now goes by
the last name Ali, his attorney said. Each faces a charge of aiding and
abetting the making of a false written statement made in connection
with a firearms purchase.
 |
| Ali |
The firearm charges and arrests were reported by the Post-Dispatch on Friday night. Some national news outlets reported, with no detail, that there had been a bomb plot.
One
of the defendants’ plans, the sources said, included planting a bomb
inside the observation deck at the top of the Arch. It was not clear how
they could have gotten a bomb past airport-style security screening for
rides up....
Local
and federal authorities have served search warrants at two buildings,
one in the 2500 block of Hampton Avenue in St. Louis and the other in
the 1500 block of Reale Avenue in north St. Louis County, but the
associated documents were sealed.
Baldwin (Muhammad) and Davis (Ali)
pleaded not guilty in a hearing Tuesday. At a second hearing,
prosecutors were prepared to argue that both should be held in jail
until trial. An FBI agent was present, and photographic or video
evidence was ready to play. But both defendants waived their right to
make a case for bail, so the hearing did not proceed.
Bill
Woods, special agent in charge of the FBI office in St. Louis, peeked
into court at one point, but there were no available seats. The room was
full with family and supporters of Davis and Baldwin....
Asked for comment after the hearing, a
female relative of Davis, who refused to give her name, said the case
consisted of “Lies, lies and more lies.”
Davis’ (Ali's) attorney,
John Lynch, said that he had waived the detention hearing because,
“This particular case involves serious issues, especially in light of
the Ferguson matter. My client is entitled to a patient analysis and due
process like anybody else, and he looks forward to a vigorous defense.”...
Baldwin’s (Muhammad's) public
defender declined to comment, as did relatives of Baldwin contacted by a
reporter. He appeared in court in a neck brace, reportedly because of a
car accident....
Davis (Ali)
spoke at a New Black Panther rally at Greater St. Mark Family Church in
Ferguson last month about the police shooting of Brown, and was
identified there as the Missouri chapter’s “minister of law.”...
The New Black Panthers has issued a statement calling the allegations regarding bombing and killing “totally unfounded” and “trumped up and baseless.”
The
statement also says that the New Black Panthers do “not teach, endorse,
or allow its members to commit acts of violence against anyone
regardless to the circumstance, unless in imminent danger according to
the rules of Self-Defense.”
Davis also is a self-proclaimed “Moorish-American,” and in a YouTube video posted last year invited viewers to learn how to avoid taxes and unconstitutional laws.
He
also said in the video that he was hit with a Taser and arrested by St.
Louis police in 2013 after he tried to make a purchase without paying
taxes at a St. Louis gas station. He said the clerk “denied me of my
right not to be taxed as a Moorish national”
and refused to accept his
identification.
In July 2010, the Post-Dispatch
photographed Davis as a recipient of an Access MO award letter for
$1,510 to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was
planning to study economics."...via Free Rep.
First image: "Brandon Orlando Baldwin, (Muhammad) seen here, was also allegedly involved in the plot," Facebook, UK Daily Mail
Second image: "Indicted: Olajuwon Davis (Ali), pictured, is one of the men who allegedly had a plot to bomb the Gateway Arch. Sources have said that Davis was in charge of the plan," You Tube via UK Daily Mail
First image: "Brandon Orlando Baldwin, (Muhammad) seen here, was also allegedly involved in the plot," Facebook, UK Daily Mail
Second image: "Indicted: Olajuwon Davis (Ali), pictured, is one of the men who allegedly had a plot to bomb the Gateway Arch. Sources have said that Davis was in charge of the plan," You Tube via UK Daily Mail
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