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Zach Colick
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| Joined: | Mon Jan 15th, 2007 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 09:24 pm |
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Editor's note: The following story appears in the July 1 Scottsdale Independent. Post comments by hitting reply in the upper right-hand corner. Comments will be posted in an upcoming issue of the Scottsdale Independent.
White supremacists indicted in 2004 city bombing
Former city diversity director talks of ordeal
By Zach Colick
Independent Newspapers
Published reports say a longtime leader in the White supremacist movement and his twin brother have been arrested in connection with a 2004 letter bombing incident at Scottsdale’s Human Resources Building.
Dennis Mahon and his twin brother, Daniel, were arrested last week in their Davis Junction, Ill., home by federal agents after a grand jury in Arizona indicted the brothers on charges of conspiracy to damage buildings and property by means of explosives.
Federal authorities found assault weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and white supremacist material inside the Mahons’ home, according to various news reports.
The federal indictment stated the brothers intended to “promote racial discord on behalf of the White Aryan Resistance.
On Feb. 4, 2004, a package containing explosives detonated in the hands of Don Logan, the city’s former diversity leader, when he opened a package that was delivered in the mail.
Dennis Mahon, an outspoken racist with ties to several White supremacist groups in Arizona and the Midwest since the 1980s, is alleged to have sent a letter to the Human Resources Building months before his attack, warning employees that their work was counter intuitive to his own thinking process and that danger could be coming their way.
Mr. Logan’s hand and arm were badly injured during the bombing incident and he later underwent surgery to repair them. Two other diversity office employees were also hurt in the incident.
Mr. Logan, who is an African American and headed the diversity office at the time of the incident, has since recovered from his severe injuries and now directs Glendale’s diversity programs.
An “enthused” and “appreciative” Mr. Logan released a statement after last week’s arrest, saying the judicial system will prevail so both he and the other two victims can finally receive justice five years after the blast.
“Although very excited about the arrest, we’re cognizant of the fact that this is the first step in the judicial process,” Mr. Logan stated in a city of Scottsdale news release.
The brief statement was Mr. Logan’s only form of communication with the media. He was advised by the U.S. Attorney’s Office not to comment on the pending case any further.
Also charged in connection with the bombing was Robert Neil Joos of Missouri. After a search of his 200-acre property, Mr. Joos was charged in U.S. District Court in Missouri with being a felon in possession of firearms.
The 2004 package bombing incident has forced the city and the Scottsdale Police Department to up security measures at City Hall.
While security specifics are not discussed by law enforcement officials, special features are now in place to ensure a similar incident does not occur in Scottsdale, as well as nearby Paradise Valley.
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