MAIL TERROR SUSPECT FACED EX-SUPERVISOR SAYS PEITZ WAS MAN IN HOOD.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - A retired postal supervisor testified Monday that a former mail carrier charged in the crime appears to be the man videotaped by a surveillance camera as he carried a fake bomb into the Lancaster post office. Postal supervisor Hazel Love said she is confident, because of his posture, gait and build, that Jeffrey Peitz is the man in the hooded sweat shirt who was videotaped in February leaving a small package in the post office lobby. ``It appears to be Jeffrey Peitz from behind - the way the knee's bent,'' she said during the third day of a preliminary hearing on charges that Peitz, starting in 2000, planted six fake bombs at the post office - the last of them in February. Peitz, 47, of Quartz Hill has pleaded not guilty to six counts of sending a false bomb. He also is charged with making a criminal threat against Love, who was mentioned in a message inside a package, and with possessing a firearm firearm, device consisting essentially of a straight tube to propel shot, shell, or bullets by the explosion of gunpowder. Although the Chinese discovered gunpowder as early as the 9th cent., they did not develop firearms until the mid-14th cent. in violation of probation. Peitz had been convicted in February 2001 of obstruction of mail and placed on probation, officials said. A postal service postal service, arrangements made by a government for the transmission of letters, packages, and periodicals, and for related services. Early courier systems for government use were organized in the Persian Empire under Cyrus, in the Roman Empire, and in medieval document indicates he resigned in 2000 while under investigation for mail theft. Love testified that Peitz, whom she supervised, was disrespectful dis·re·spect·ful adj. Having or exhibiting a lack of respect; rude and discourteous. dis  re·spect at times. Sometimes, as he walked past her desk, he recited a vulgar rhyme: ``Hickory Hickory, city, United StatesHickory, city (1990 pop. 28,301), Burke and Catawba counties, W N.C., at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mts.; inc. 1870. It is a processing and trade center for an abundant agricultural region (grain, soybeans, poultry, hogs, , dickory, dock - this ... has got to stop,'' she testified. ``He had more of a defiant nature to me. He didn't want to take instructions from me. At times he got standoffish stand·off·ish adj. Aloof or reserved. stand·off  ish·ness n. and had a smart-alecky attitude toward me,'' she said. ``At times it was a form of disrespect.'' Love, who retired in 2002, said she became more fearful after the arrival in April 2001 of a fake bomb with a message telling postal workers A postal worker is one who works for a post office, such as a mail carrier. In the U.S., postal workers are represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union - NPMHU and the American Postal Workers Union, part of the AFL-CIO. to ``clean up your act'' and mentioning her by name. She stopped taking a morning walk, kept her home windows closed all the time, always carried a cell phone and got her husband to accompany her shopping. ``I became more fearful of the fact there possibly was someone out there trying to hurt me,'' Love testified. Peitz's preliminary hearing is expected to continue today before Judge Lisa Chung, who must rule whether the evidence is enough to warrant a trial. Before the hearing, defense attorney Richard Plotin described the case as weak, built totally on circumstantial evidence circumstantial evidence In law, evidence that is drawn not from direct observation of a fact at issue but from events or circumstances that surround it. If a witness arrives at a crime scene seconds after hearing a gunshot to find someone standing over a corpse and holding a . Officials say Peitz is responsible for placing six packages filled with carved-up colored soap and detergent and containing threats against postal workers and President George W. Bush at the Lancaster post office on 20th Street West on six dates from Dec. 29, 2000, through Feb. 12, 2003. Since his April 29 arrest, Peitz has been jailed in lieu of $5 million bail. Some of the packages contained rhymed threats, including: ``Roses are red, violets are blue, now my wrath is upon you.'' Authorities said a search of his home in April turned up clear packing tape, felt-tip pens and perfumed soap bars Soap bar or Soapbar may refer to:
In 1994, Peitz was charged with murdering his then-wife, who was shot to death while watching television in their Palmdale home, but he was never convicted. Each of his three trials ended in deadlocked dead·lock n. 1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions. 2. Sports A tied score. 3. juries. Prosecutors say that investigation is still open. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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