{news} Arrest exposes state's threat list

[clifford thornton]

Arrest exposes state's threat list 
Gregory B. Hladky, Capitol Bureau Chief
01/09/2007
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-HARTFORD - Key Democratic lawmakers and Gov. M. Jodi Rell want explanations about the arrest of an activist-blogger at Rell's inaugural parade and about a law enforcement list of allegedly dangerous individuals. 


Ken Krayeske, a Green Party supporter, campaign worker and Internet blogger, was arrested last week by Hartford police after taking photos of Rell during her inaugural parade. Police said Krayeske's name was on a list of "potential threats" put together by the FBI, state and local police.

     
"There was nothing about his (Krayeske's) history that indicates he was a danger to anyone," said state Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the legislature's Judiciary Committee. He and other legislators Monday blasted the arrest as unnecessary and a violation of constitutional rights, and said they plan to hold public hearings on the issue.

Rell wrote to state Public Safety Commissioner Leonard Boyle, asking him to review the incident and find out why Krayeske's name and photograph were given to police before the parade. "In providing security and protection, we cannot permit the rights of individuals to be trampled," Rell's letter says.

State Rep. Christopher Caruso, D-Bridgeport, said the secret list of allegedly dangerous individuals "reeks of secret police." 

"Political activism is not a crime," said Caruso, co-chairman of the legislature's Government Administration and Elections Committee. 

Lawlor questioned whether holding Krayeske for 13 hours before releasing him on $75,000 bail was an attempt to prevent him from protesting at Rell's inaugural ball that evening. On his blog, Krayeske invited other activists to join him at the ball for a demonstration.

State Rep. Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, co-chairwoman of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, called existence of the secret list put together by law enforcement officials "shocking."

A police report on Krayeske's arrest says information on him was provided by the FBI through the Connecticut Intelligence Center.

Connecticut's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security's Web site says the intelligence center is in the FBI's state office. "The center includes federal, state and local law enforcement personnel working side by side to develop leads and solve cases," according to the Web site.

FBI spokeswoman Vicki Woods referred questions about the alleged list to state police. Spokesmen for the state police and Connecticut's Homeland Security agency failed to respond to requests for comment Monday.

Krayeske was a spokesman for Green Party gubernatorial candidate Cliff Thornton during the 2006 campaign and several times confronted Rell or her campaign aides over major party candidates' refusal to include Thornton in televised debates.

The police report says Krayeske went to the parade route on a mountain bike, jumped off and ran into the road in front of Rell. The report says an officer recognized him from a photo provided by the FBI. 

Krayeske allegedly pulled away from the officer, then was arrested on breach of peace and interfering with an officer charges. Krayeske insisted he had taken photos of Rell from a median in the parade route for several minutes and was returning to the curb when he was arrested.

"These charges are garbage," said Norman A. Pattis, a New Haven lawyer representing Krayeske. 



©New Haven Register 2007 


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