[bloodrayne]

Man Charged With Threatening Cheney

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - A man was charged Friday with making a threat against the life of Vice President Dick Cheney during his campaign visit to Michigan, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Homer O. Shoup Jr. of Wayland made the threats in a 911 call Friday morning, U.S. Attorney Margaret Chiara said a statement. Authorities apprehended him a few hours later in Grand Rapids around the time Cheney was about an hour's drive away in Dimondale, Michigan, for a rally, Michigan state police said.

Cheney spokeswoman Anne Womack referred all questions to the Secret Service, which said it was investigating.

In the 911 phone call, the 51-year-old Shoup said, "I've turned my van into a bomb and I am going to crash it into the Capitol Centre and try to kill Cheney," according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. The Capital Centre in Dimondale is where Cheney spoke.

Police tracked down Shoup at a park in Grand Rapids where they found in his van a propane gas tank, a full 5-gallon gasoline tank and three empty metallic trash cans.

Before making the 911 call, Shoup dropped off at Grand Rapids station WOOD-TV a videotape and letters that explained his plan, Chiara said.

Shoup remained in custody and was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids on Sunday morning. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.