Threatening situations

McNeil told us last week that Ford threatened him on March 10, 2005. For those of you who don't feel like going back through all the previous blogs, here's the short version: According to McNeil, Ford threatened to shoot anyone who was out to get him so there wouldn't be any witnesses. McNeil felt the threat was directed at him. He also said the threat occurred in a Memphis restaurant.

Scholl asked McNeil this morning if this is correct. He said yes. The reason Scholl's asking is because unlike many of the other conversations between the two men, the threat was not recorded. Instead, there's only the agent's word, so it's open to interpretation.

Scholl then asked if it was just him and Ford at the table. Surprisingly the answer is no, there was someone else at lunch with them - Mr. Howard. Last week, McNeil didn't mention this other person at the table, but I suppose it doesn't matter. Apparently Mr. Howard didn't hear the threat, because he happened to be away from the table at the time.

Scholl then brings up Scholl's FBI report. In the report the threat occurred, but it didn't occur in the restaurant. It happened in the vehicle on the way to the E-Cycle office. Now...which is correct? Did it happen in the car or the restaurant?

McNeil says the threat began in the restaurant. He says Ford was concerned that someone was trying to set him up. The conversation moved onto other subjects, but McNeil says when they got back to the car, Ford continued to talk about someone who was setting him up. He told McNeil he would shoot them so that there would be no witnesses.

Even though McNeil can record conversations in the car, this one was not recorded. Scholl then wants to know the following:

"Did Mr Ford pat you down?"
"No"

"Did he show you a gun?"
"No"

McNeil is 6'1' and 220lbs.