Miami, FLORIDA

Suspended Miami commissioner, Arthur Teele, was found guilty of threatening a public official and was sentenced to two years probation. He is under investigation for fraud as well as taking kickbacks while he was head of the city's community redevelopment agency. Removed from office in September, he attempted suicide in the lobby of the Miami Herald. His "troubles" included federal charges for money laundering and mail and wire fraud.

One possible reason for his attempted suicide:

A lengthy cover story that consumes much of tomorrow's edition of Miami New Times accuses Teele of being involved with drug traffic, bribery, extortion and sex with multiple mistresses and male prostitutes. Reporter Francisco Alvarado, who wrote the story, said it was primarily a compliation of prior media reports and new information revealed during discovery for Teele's pending trial.

However, the Miami Herald looks to be a day late. The Miami New Times already has the story up.

More on Tealle. Here
Here

UPDATE: Teele died on arrival at the hospital. And in a bizarre note, the Miami Herald fired the reporter Teele had talked to shortly before his death, ostensibly because the journalist had taped the conversation, which is against the law. Even more bizarre, the Miami Herald send a sort of sympathy card to their readers.

FOR THE RECORD, Teele was a Republican, although, inexplicably, few stories say so.