NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 1999

CARY OFFICIALS CLEAR MAN OF AUTHORING RACIST LETTER, CHARGE EX-GIRLFRIEND WITH STALKING, SENDING ANONYMOUS LETTERS

CARY, NC – It appears that a domestic dispute may be behind the weekend incident involving a racist letter being sent to residents of a Cary apartment complex. On Tuesday night, Cary Police officially cleared Louis Sawicki of any wrong-doing in the matter and charged his former girlfriend, Sylvia Denise Rhodes of Cary, with one count of Stalking and one count of Mailing or Transmitting Anonymous or Threatening Letters. All of the charges are misdemeanors under state law.

"Based on our investigation, we are satisfied that Mr. Sawicki is not the author of the letter," said Cary Police Chief WJ "Windy" Hunter. "Mr. Sawicki cooperated with us completely on this matter."

As part of the investigation, Sawicki, who denied authoring the letter from the beginning of the incident, was able to provide police with evidence of the stalking. Further analysis led officials to Ms. Rhodes.

On Saturday, residents of the racially diverse Pine Ridge Apartments received in their mail a letter using a racial epithet. The letter blamed African-Americans for crimes and asked the tenants to come to a meeting to rid the community of African-Americans. The letter identified Sawicki as the author and gave personal information including his address, telephone number, and email address. Alarmed residents asked the Cary Police Department to intervene.

"We appreciate everyone involved in this very emotional matter giving the Police Department the time needed to bring the incident to a lawful conclusion," said Hunter.

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