Politech: FC: Australian cops interrogate Jim-Bell quoting online anarchist

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

There are those people who seek out trouble. Still others accidentally 
attract it. And then there are those who have devoted their lives to 
stalking trouble, running it to ground, sneaking up behind it, thwapping it 
on the nose, proclaiming that its mother wears combat boots, and daring it 
to an impromptu match of fisticuffs. Afterward they lie, nose-bloodied and 
battered, on the ground and grumble. (In a grudge match, trouble always wins.)
Matt Stephen Taylor (who goes by "proffr" and "mattd") is one of those 
people. If awards were given for Most Innovative Way to Taunt Police, this 
self-described anarchist would be a gold medalist in the category of 
performance art. For the last few months, as far as I can tell, he's done 
little but tempt trouble:
http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=proffr

Trouble came and went when mattd/proffr, who lives in central Victoria, 
Australia, taunted the Cincinnati police. He allegedly posted threats 
against Steven Roach, the policeman whose shooting of an unarmed black man 
led to riots in Cincinnati. But the Australian cops nabbed proffr/mattd 
first, and proffr/mattd pled guilty to vandalizing a McDonald's restaurant.
While the legal process is going forward, mattd/proffr has amused himself 
by subscribing to the cypherpunks list, a place not known for people who 
are readily offended. Yet his unique combination of rants and inchoate 
posts (my filters have snared about 780 of them) has driven subscribers to 
invent custom procmail recipies to complain about off-topic messages. One 
message that went to his Internet provider was a little whiny by list 
standards, but captured the sentiment well:
> "To: support () nex net au // Subject: Re: Youth in Asia // Someone who 
> appears to be posting from a nex.net.au address <profrv () nex com au> keeps 
> posting large volumes of spam, obcenity, death threats to random people, 
> mail bombs, and so forth to our mailing list. He keeps changing his 
> apparent address, so
> we have difficulty filtering him out. His postings were originally merely 
> excessive and of doubtful relevance, but have become more and more hostile 
> and harassing."
mattd/proffr appears to have subscribed to the cypherpunks list to carry on 
the dubious mission of Jim Bell, the author of the long-winded anarcho 
screed Assassination Politics. Bell wrote how the next generation of 
Internet entrepreneurs will use digital cash, anonymous remailers, and such 
to off miscreant federal agents (Bell especially didn't care for tax 
collectors):
http://zolatimes.com/v2.26/jimbell.htm

Bell, of course, was convicted last year by a Washington state jury and is 
serving 10 years in the Lompoc federal prison. Bell was another dedicated 
trouble-hunter, as was Carl Johnson, a cypherpunk who was convicted of 
threats but is now out of gaol, at least temporarily (his probation officer 
apparently told him not to seek trouble by continuing to participate in 
list discussions):
http://www.politechbot.com/p-02938.html

Although Bell technically was convicted for allegedly stalking federal 
agents, his essay and political views became a big part of his trial:
http://www.cluebot.com/search.pl?topic=ap-politics

Now mattd/proffr seems to want to follow the Bell-Johnson precedent by 
emailing semi-random rants and Assassination Politics-related references to 
the cypherpunks list, and, I presume, just about everywhere else. Here's a 
representative excerpt from one of his posts:
> Youth In Asia Society: At our last monthly meeting, we discussed all of the
> reasons there are not to KILL THE PRESIDENT. We think it is our duty to
> inform people of our objection to those who believe it is necessary to KILL
> THE PRESIDENT. We also object to people who are constantly running around,
> shouting, incessantly, "KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE
> PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL
> THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT!
> KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT!"
It's a lot longer, but you get the idea.

This style of posting seems to have raised some eyebrows inside the 
Australian constabulary, not to mention leading to a raid, a laptop 
seizure, and an interrogation or two. Read in mattd/proffr's own words 
below how he hasn't given up on tempting trouble.
-Declan

---

Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 03:23:09 +1100
To: cypherpunks () einstein ssz com
From: proffr11 <proffr11 () bigpond com>
Subject: Police interview proffr over seized laptop.(After 8 months.)

Bomb bomb.I may be charged with making death threats in "e-mail's"(police 
description.) directed toward the victorian police and a State govt 
(victorian.)minister,Rob 'buckethead'Hulls.A policeman ,who killed a 
citizen and was found with KKK literature and extensive weaponry 
collection,norman scott cheasley's name was mentioned as was the Police 
commissioner,C.Nixon.The two post's looked more like warnings than threats.
One was posted at a board where "anyone can download"(police prosecutor 
under oath.) early last year.
The 2cnd mentioned was made just hours prior to the serving of a warrant.It 
was not mentioned in the warrant.(couldn't have been.)So on the basis of 
basically one post made to one (anarchist,according to police.) 
website,(that doesn't require registration or keep logs) The police have 
seized my laptop,kept it over 8 months and still have to bring actual 
charges.They may still not bring charges.The post's seem so incoherent as 
to be nonsensical.Assassination politics was not mentioned during the 
interview though it featured strongly at my bail hearing last year and was 
fairly widely reported in the tabloid and local papers.Indymedia,where the 
post's were left (not e-mailed) by person or persons unknown,has had a 
couple of legal problems,one of them allegedly by me at the (now defunct) 
Ohio valley site.I do remember making that post.(stephen Roach,dead man 
walking.)
I made a "no comment' interview under legal advice.I deny making death 
threats, or any threats actually,I'm advocating assassination politics or 
APster strictly for its value as entertainment journalism.I will vigorously 
defend any charges bought arising from this gross abuse of State power.I 
hope to sue the police for malicious prosecution.I will certainly be 
complaining to the ombudsman.One attempt to retrieve the dell has already 
cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars.
A million mojo-dollars and 15 feet of pure white snow
for the head of george walker bush,payment on delivery. pr.

---

Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:04:52 +1100
To: declan () well com
From: proffr11 <proffr11 () bigpond com>
Subject: Prints required,force authorized to collect

Au police now take a set of hand and finger dabs everytime someone is 
interviewed for an indictable offense.
These may be expunged after 6 months on application.(should charges not be 
proceeded with.)
I should be charged soon with making a 'death threat' in an "e-mail'.Cant 
wait:)
---

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 15:58:27 +1100
To: cypherpunks () einstein ssz com
From: matthew X <profrv () nex com au>
Subject: Attacks on Anarchists in au.
Cc: declan () well com

Federal Police harrass E-Journalist.
by profrv () nospambutfuckmicrosoft com 12:31pm Thu Feb 28 '02

Interviews with a shrink are rare when your on the disability support,I had 
one about every 20 years...till recently.
I had one a couple of weeks ago where my Dr agreed to write to the 
Victorian police about a notebook computer seized by them.I had explained 
to my Dr that the police taking eight months to even interview me,(still 
not charge me)was stressful and he seemed to agree.
Today my case worker called by to tell me another interview had been 
arranged for tomorrow.(fri.)As this is extremely unusual I inquired as to 
the reason.He informs me that a Federal policeman,one David Hall had been 
in touch with them in regard to alleged internet E-journalism by me.
David Hall and another fed along with an "observer" and a US SS agent,rick 
Walkinshaw accompanied the 5 Victorian plod that raided me last june and 
stole my notepad.
Seeing as Dave already knows where I live,maybe he could save the taxpayers 
some money and call me direct next time?
I'll tell him directly now what I plan to tell my Psychiatrist tomorrow 
that he and and his drunk mate and all the spooks and spies can go and GET 
FUCKED!
Also when he's finished to get on to the lazy,lying thieving victorian 
filth to either return my notebook or give me what I really want,a chance 
to make total fools of them in a court of law.FUCK the POLICE!
He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from 
oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that 
will reach to himself. - --Thomas Paine www.indymedia.org  melbourne.au
AND
New indymedia station 
http://www.brisbane.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=63&group=webcast
---




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