THE BOULDER County Sheriffs office announced last week that it has arrested a suspect in the April 6 mailing of envelopes containing white powder and threatening messages to two Jewish institutions in Boulder.
On May 7, Boulder deputies arrested 32-year-old Boulder resident Jeffrey Klinkel and charged him with felony menacing, explosive hoax and interference with a school facility in last months incident involving the Boulder JCC and Har HaShem.
A press release from the Boulder sheriff noted that the substance mailed to both institutions turned out to be harmless corn starch or white flour or a combination of the two. The Colorado Dept. of Health reportedly analyzed the substance.
The release also indicated that Klinkel was tied to the mailings through unspecified forensic evidence. The FBI, according to Boulder authorities, jointly investigated the case.
Boulder County Detective Chris Fiegel told the Intermountain Jewish News this week that the department is continuing to investigate and hopes to obtain additional evidence in the case.
Klinkel, who according to the Boulder Daily Camera has an extensive criminal background including arrests for assault, harassment, burglary, trespassing and fraud, has bonded out of Boulder County Jail, the IJN learned this week.
In a statement issued last week, Boulder JCC executive director Jonathan Lev said, We are incredibly grateful for the diligent and expeditious efforts of law enforcement and for all of their work during the incidents as well as their ongoing support. The Boulder JCC and Har HaShem leadership have been working closely with each other and the authorities to support the investigation and will continue to be fully cooperative in this matter.
Lev also expressed gratitude for the heartwarming expressions of support the Jewish institutions received from individuals, organizations and faith communities in the wake of the mailings last month.
Both the Boulder JCC and Har HaShem received the envelopes in mail deliveries on April 6 and immediately evacuated and closed their facilities, concerned that the substance inside might be toxic.
Employees who came in contact with the envelopes were placed in temporary quarantine.
The institutions remained closed that day as police and fire officials conducted thorough examinations of their facilities.
THE ENVELOPES sent to both institutions also contained notes, although initial reports that the Boulder JCCs note said simply your (sic) have enemies proved to be inaccurate.
Detective Fiegel confirmed to the IJN that the note actually contained the message, This Goyim is enjoying the blood of her enemies for Passover.
Despite the notes incoherence, the references to Goyim, Passover and blood strongly suggest anti-Semitism, Fiegel agreed. Jews have been killed due to false accusations that they murdered Christian children to use their blood to make matzah for Passover.
When asked by the IJN why hate crime or bias charges have not been leveled against Klinkel, Fiegel said that the incoherence and lack of verbiage in the notes meaning the lack of clarity in the messages and the absence of an actual threat would make it difficult for the district attorney to win a hate crime or bias conviction in this case.
Fiegel added that unless there are victims who are injured or killed in a bias crime, the penalties for such charges tend to be low level. He feels that the charges that have been leveled against Klinkel will be sufficient to lead to convictions and appropriate penalties for the suspect.
However, Fiegel added, the Boulder County District Attorney may file additional charges against Klinkel, including those involving hate or bias. That will likely depend on whether further evidence is located before Klinkel goes to trial.
Were not done with it yet, Fiegel said.
Chris Leppek may be reached at IJNEWS@aol.com.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
