Friday, January 29, 1999
Miami suspect protested fingerprinting
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[exstudents]](/editions/1999/01/24/allensnow_180x131.jpg )
Nathaniel Snow, right, with attorney co-defendant Brad M. Allen, left, and their lawyer, Kenneth Lawson.
(Yoni Pozner photo)
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OXFORD — Six weeks before he was arrested and charged for his alleged role in the posting of racist fliers at Miami University's black cultural center, Nathaniel Snow wrote a letter to President James Garland declaring his innocence.
In his letters, copies of which were obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer this week, Mr. Snow said Miami police were harassing him by demanding he offer fingerprints. He also said he was a “victim of unfounded harassment” and that he was “being set up or framed.”
The university, he claimed, was ignoring other suspects so it could hastily peg him as the one who scattered racist, pro-KKK and anti-gay fliers at Miami's Center for Black Culture and Learning in October. He also hinted the investigation was racially motivated.
“I know I am 100 percent innocent,” the former president of the Black Student Action Association at Miami wrote in the Dec. 4 letter to Mr. Garland. “I find it very ironic that they are accusing black people of doing a crime that was perpetuated against blacks.
“What have I done to be labeled a suspect? Could it be because of my participation in the recent rallies that I am being singled out as a scape goat?”
University police and administrators have repeatedly disputed Mr. Snow's accusations that he was treated unfairly.
Mr. Snow, 22, of College Hill, and Brad M. Allen, 21, of suburban Cleveland were charged Jan. 21 with criminal mischief and criminal trespassing. The two black men were arrested after lab results from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation linked them to the Oct. 30 racial incident.
University police said 87 percent of the fingerprints on the fliers matched those of Mr. Allen and Mr. Snow.
If convicted on both counts, each could face up to 90 days in jail and $750 in fines. Both men withdrew from Miami on Jan. 20, citing fear of dismissal or suspension.
Mr. Garland wrote a letter back to Mr. Snow on Dec. 8, assuring him Miami's investigation was fair and unbiased.
“I realize that you are angry and upset,” he said. “Furthermore, I do not doubt that being a party to a criminal investigation is an unpleasant and disturbing experience.
“However, I can find no evidence to support your belief that Miami police have behaved toward you in an unreasonable and disrespectful manner. In fact, the information I have seen suggests quite the opposite.”
The former black student leader said he was willing to comply with police during the investigation. But he thought their treatment of him was “unfair, highly inappropriate and extremely disrespectful and distasteful.”
He claimed officers left rude and threatening messages on his voice mail insisting he come in for fingerprinting.
“I really felt like I am a criminal because of the way they are handling the whole investigation,” he wrote.
Mr. Garland, in his reply to the student, said Miami officers were only doing their job.
“You accuse the police of "idle accusations and mistreatments,' of "accusing black people for doing a crime that was perpetuated against blacks,' of using procedures and tactics that are "highly inappropriate and extremely disrespectful and distasteful.' However, I am afraid you offer no information to back up any of these claims.”
Mr. Garland said although Mr. Snow feels he is a scapegoat, the circumstances show “only that the police were trying to obtain your fingerprints, as they had with other individuals.”
Cincinnati lawyer Kenneth Lawson, who represents the two former Miami students, does not accept Miami's promise of an unbiased investigation. He entered pleas of not guilty on their behalf Tuesday in Butler County Area One Court in Oxford.
“Obviously they were targets because they were most vocal,” he said. “The police focused more on them. I know they focused more on them.”
Mr. Lawson, who has been adamant about not allowing his clients to talk about the case, said Mr. Snow wrote to Mr. Garland prior to retaining his services. He declined to comment on the letters, but reiterated his clients' innocence.
Mr. Garland reaffirmed Wednesday his confidence in the integrity of the police investigation.
“I believe we should discourage speculation about a "setup' or any other misdeeds by Miami police, none of which is supported by any evidence whatsoever,” he said.
Mr. Snow and Mr. Allen are to appear in court for a pretrial hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 12.
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![[exstudents]](/editions/1999/01/24/allensnow_500x363.jpg )