The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a Toledo man who allegedly e-mailed threats to President Obama after he toured the Toledo Assembly complex.
Michael Bradley of 5030 Valley Forge Drive is accused of having warned Mr. Obama not to return to Toledo, following his tour of the Jeep plant June 3, or he "will be dead."
President Obama's trip to Toledo was well received by many here who believe his support of a federal bailout in 2009 helped save the Jeep factory's owner, which was then called Chrysler LLC.
Mr. Obama caused a run on hot dogs at Rudy's Hot Dogs, 946 West Sylvania Ave., and women's gardening gloves at Fred's Pro Hardware, 3333 Stickney Ave., after he purchased both during unscheduled stops before visiting the North Toledo factory.
Three weeks later, the White House received an ugly warning not to return to Toledo, from someone named Michael Bradley living in ZIP code 43613, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo by the U.S. Secret Service.
The first of two messages -- sent all in capital letters -- was received at 11:40 a.m., June 27. It began:
"To the illiterate monkey in office! Don't come back to Toledo again or touch any business in my community or anything else in it again. Reverse everything you have done in this city or you will be dead! This is your last warning. Do it or it will be war and you and your family will die!"
The second email, received at 12:02 p.m. the same day, had a briefer message, also with a threat, according to the Secret Service: "If you wish to play government in my home you will learn the consequences!"
In the affidavit, Special Agent Louis Johns of the Secret Service in Toledo said he believed there was probable cause to believe the messages violate a federal law against threatening the president of the United States, and that Mr. Bradley was the author.
The affidavit requested, and won, a search warrant for 5030 Valley Forge. The warrant was carried out July 20 and a "custom-made desktop computer" and power cable were taken.
Agent Johns and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bauer declined to comment on the case. No charges have been filed.
According to the investigation, the Internet address for the computer belonged to Brenda Perkins, of the same address.
The messages were sent to the White House's public Web site, whitehouse.gov.
A man who answered the phone Monday at the Valley Forge address said "no comment" when a reporter introduced himself.
Contract Tom Troy at: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058.
First Published August 9, 2011, 4:15 a.m.
