Remember when Sunspot Observatory was all over the news because it shut down unexpectedly and no one, even the local law enforcement, knew why? There were all sorts of rumors about aliens or secret sun weapon technology, terrorism, hacking... Turns out it was shut down because of an investigation into child porn that led to threats against the staff. The FBI has named the person they're investigating in public court documents, but they haven't filed any charges yet. I wonder why they didn't include local law enforcement in this investigation? Local police told the media that they didn't know what was happening.
Meanwhile, a post office right by Sunspot was also shut down temporarily, but a USPS spokesman said that was coincidence and not at all related.
You can read a detailed story about what happened and the suspect involved, along with one of the court documents that was filed, in my story on Heavy here. But here are some tidbits if you want a quick overview first.
According to court documents, the FBI tracked down a laptop at Sunspot that was distributing and using child porn on the Sunspot's wireless network. They connected it to a janitor who works at the observatory. The day after they seized the laptop, he told people that he was concerned about lax security. As a result, he would no longer bring personal items to Sunspot, because too many people knew the passcode and it should be changed. He also said, “I should be able to throw a laptop down in a room and not have to worry about someone stealing it.”
The FBI says they decided to shut down the facility after the janitor made strange statements about a serial killer who might "enter the facility and execute someone."
So that's the "story behind the story."
Photo above: Sunspot Observatory's photo on Facebook
I find the story implausible. I cannot believe the FBI would close the facility, send crews up on antennae and towers, even bring in a military helicopter, because a janitor made strange and ambiguous, albeit threatening, comments.
How was this dude a threat after they seized his laptop? Was he not in jail?
Neither do I believe the closure of the Post Office was unrelated. There were several webcams aimed at the sun that simultaneously went down with the Sunspot observatory.
Sure, I can see they might have felt it advisable to bring in a Blackhawk to circle the facility to facilitate the arrest. I don't see why they'd close it down after they made the arrest though, and neither do I buy the coincidence gambit for the closure of the Post Office, or the webcams that went black.
IMHO, this is a cover story for something else that is, or was, happening.
Thanks!
I think it's worth being skeptical in this case, and you raise some good points. Especially about the Black Hawk and the post office closure. I did find it odd that he wasn't arrested yet when this story was published. Why so long?