Satanic Death Threat Scribbled In Gazebo?

BY JIM REAGEN

A prayer group that has been meeting at the gazebo in Library Park early each morning is concerned after someone left what one member is describing as a "satanic death threat."

Paul H. Mallette says three to eight people have been meeting at the gazebo at about 5 a.m. since May 30 to pray for the community.

"We want to make a difference in Ogdensburg," he says.

After noticing that people were vandalizing the gazebo and a picnic table they were using for their prayer meetings, Mr. Mallette decided to leave a note on the picnic table on Aug. 12 asking them to stop the vandalism.

The note included a phone number and a scriptural verse.

"We asked whoever is defacing this table to please stop," Mr. Mallette said. "We told them we're praying down here. We're praying for the city. This is your city too."

"Two days later I get this phone call," he says. His phone said it was from an "unknown caller."

A female caller made an obscene remark about Christ.

Mr. Mallette says he left another note, saying "you are unknown by us, but you are not unknown to God. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to pray for you and all the unknown in the city."

"The idea was to reach out to the kids, to help them to know God," he said. "I was hoping that if we could start a dialogue that maybe some of this destructiveness would stop."

A man called another day who also made an obscene remark about Christ.

Mr. Mallette says he tried to engage the man in a conversation.

He said that "Jesus was phony and that he was a Satanist."

"I left a note saying I was really interested in talking to them," he said.

Wednesday morning, when Mr. Mallette went to the gazebo, a vehicle drove by with individuals who shouted anti-gay ephitets.

On the floor of the gazebo, a warning was written.

"Look behind you,

Are you ready to run

I've been waiting

patiently for this

Are you ready

to die"

A pentagram was drawn next to the end of the message.

On the railing of the gazebo, someone wrote "there will be blood."

Mr. Mallette said that when he saw the car with individuals shouting at him as well as the satanic death threat, he decided to make a complaint to city police and ask for religious people in the community to get involved.

"We made a covenant with God," he said. "We're hoping area churches get involved."

"I take a threat very seriously," he said. "I'm not leaving any more notes because it just keeps escalating. It's becoming a game for them."