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July 27, 2005
Time to Pay the Piper
Breaking news from Miami -- Suspended Miami Commissioner Art Teele shot himself in the Miami Herald building late this afternoon.
Early reports indicate that Teele survived the shooting, and was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. Witnesses said that Teele has one gun shot wound to the head and he had lost a great deal of blood. Employees of the newspaper said they heard one shot and the Herald Building was immediately evacuated.
Rumor has it that he pulled a gun from a bookbag and shot himself in the mouth, with the bullet exiting from the back of his head. Miami rescue workers said that Teele was conscious while being transported to the hospital, and when asked to blink his eyes, he did so.
The former commissioner has faced a myriad of troubles over the past few years, including federal charges for money laundering and mail and wire fraud.
Teele was convicted in March of threatening a Miami-Dade police officer. He is awaiting trial on other fraud charges in state court.
In the most recent charges, Teele is accused of helping a minority company win more than $20 million worth of electrical contracts at Miami International Airport, when the work ended up actually being done by a much larger, non-minority company.
If convicted on the federal charges, Teele could face up to 20 years in prison.
Now, I don't care much for the Miami Herald, but why inflict them with your suicide Art? It's not like they made you do what you did. All they did was put it on the front page, where it belongs. Sooner or later, it was bound catch up with you.
I'm glad you're alive to face the consequences of what you have done over the years, but sorry that we will now have to pay for your psychiatrist, as well as your three hots and cot while you rot in prison.
UPDATE: Arthur Teele is dead.
His epitaph:
"Art Teele is a man of very big appetites, and because of them he is now in very big trouble ... the once-powerful politician is possessed of a seemingly insatiable craving for all things illicit -- adulterous sex, illegal drugs, bribery and extortion." - Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times
His legacy:
July 28, 2005: Tales of Teele: Sleaze Stories
July 14, 2005: Art Teele Faces Federal Charges
April 4, 2005: No New Trial For Teele
March 2, 2005: Verdict In For Former Commissioner
January 6, 2005: 'Crazy' Police Tapes Reveal More About Arrest
October 1, 2004: Commissioners To Discuss Teele's Position At Public Meeting
September 29, 2004: Commissioners Unsure What To Do About Teele
September 28, 2004: Commission To Discuss Replacing Suspended Politician
September 21, 2004: Police Demand Records From Commissioner's Office
September 15, 2004: Teele Pleads Not Guilty
September 10, 2004: Teele Addresses Commission After Arrest
August 27, 2004: Volatile Miami Commissioner Arrested
February 26, 2003: WPLG Editorial: Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele Has A Lot To Explain About Little Haiti Park Project (2/25/03)
Posted by LindaSoG at July 27, 2005 06:58 PM
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