METHADONE CLINIC GETS A THREAT; PATROLS UP

It was not clear whether the incident involved an e-mail that appears
to have been sent by a clinic opponent.

Roanoke police have stepped up patrols around the city's
controversial methadone clinic following a reported threat to the facility.

Police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said the threat was being
investigated. She would not elaborate, other than to say it was taken
seriously by the staff of the Roanoke Treatment Center at 3208
Hershberger Road N.W.

The clinic, which opened in January, has been the subject of heated opposition.

It was not clear Thursday whether the reported threat involved an
e-mail, a copy of which was obtained by The Roanoke Times, that
appears to have been sent by a clinic opponent stating: "Let's blow
this motherf----- up!"

The e-mail was apparently sent by mistake to Ralph Sroufe, a regional
manager for the state agency that regulates methadone clinics.

Although Sroufe was the recipient of the e-mail, the text is
addressed to someone else. Most of the e-mail lists possible speakers
and other plans being discussed for an event organized by clinic opponents.

It appears the line in question could have been a figure of speech.

Sroufe confirmed Thursday that he had received the e-mail, which was
dated Monday. He forwarded the message to Tina Bullins, head of a
Galax methadone clinic owned by the same company that operates the
Roanoke facility.

Bullins said she could not comment on a pending investigation.

"Any communication that we receive which we perceive as a threat to
the facility, the patients or our staff we treat very seriously and
we report them as necessary," Bullins said.

Johnson said that while police have watched the clinic closely since
it opened, patrols were increased this week as a result of the reported threat.