Document text
SUNNY Temp: 77 °F Wind: WNW at 6 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 27, 2003 Odor at abortion office raises suspicions By MYLES MURPHY and TROY HEIE for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Police are awaiting test results on a noxious substance that produced a foul odor at an Ashland medical office where abortions are performed. The incident has raised concerns that abortion opponents targeted the office, though no connection has been made, police said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI are aware of the case, spokespersons for both agencies said this week. "We’re very concerned about what occurred up there," said Rich Walsh, Ashland’s interim police chief. "But the bottom line is before we get everyone excited (about the possibility of an anti-abortion-related attack), we need to have the substance tested." Advertisement The incident occurred prior to 9 a.m. June 19 at 125 Maple St., and was initially reported as a "noxious odor," according to Ashland police reports. Employees at the medical office described the odor of rotten eggs. Ashland Fire and Rescue crews were called in to conduct air sampling inside the building, but no health threat was found. No workers became ill, according to Ashland Fire Chief Keith Woodley. Police also arrived, according to an APD crime log from June 19. Police and fire crews were on scene for an hour and a half, but an incident report was not filed, APD records show. "The officer at the time didn’t determine a criminal aspect to this," Walsh said. That changed Saturday when a damaged air vent was discovered at the building. "We found an exterior vent and some type of substance was poured into the vent," Walsh said. "We took swabs of the chemical, we have taken latent (finger)prints and we’re going to determine whether or not they belong to somebody who can be identified." The samples have been sent to the Oregon State Police crime lab. Walsh said he is unsure when the results will come back. Kirk Gooding, a physician at the multi-service practice, said the office has been targeted by burglars before, but he said he felt those incidents were not related to the abortion issue. "I don’t think there was a connection," he said. Last week’s incident is a different matter, he said. No threats were made to the office prior to the incident, Gooding said, but the case has garnered the attention of ATF officials because clinics across the nation where abortions are performed have reported similar events over the past decade. "I do know the ATF was contacted because of the possibility (the incident is related to more violent attacks)," Walsh said. "If it turns out to be something that is occurring at a national level, then it’s obviously a major concern." ATF officials have not opened an official investigation, but are keeping an ear to the ground. "We just got kind of an intelligence heads-up from the fire department down there," ATF spokesman John McMahon said in a telephone interview from Portland. "Since no arson or explosion occurred, we have no jurisdiction. We are obviously aware this took place and this site has drawn attention with some people." The FBI is also in the loop on the investigation, but would give no additional information. "We are aware of the incident — that’s the extent of what I can say," FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said in a phone interview from Portland. In 1992, the Catalina Medical Center in Ashland that performed abortions was firebombed. Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon of Grants Pass was convicted in that case. She also pleaded guilty to a number of other firebombings of Planned Parenthood offices and the 1993 shooting of a physician in Kansas. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the shooting, and another 20 years for the firebomb attacks. Shannon remains in prison. Myles Murphy is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times