WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999

Disc jockey targeted

By Michelle Devera

On-Line Forty-Niner

Disturbing letters are being mailed to a KLON disc jockey and University Police do not know who or why the Latin jazz show host is being targeted, said Lt. Judi King, University Police public informtion officer.

Jose Rizo, who hosts the jazz station's Friday night program, reported the letters to police April 5. The station is located on Upper Campus.

The letters accuse him of being a biased, racist bigot, King said.

According to police reports, Rizo has been receiving these letters for the past two years but did not report them because he did not perceive them as threatening.

However, the recent rash of letters has prompted Rizo to turn them over, authorities said.

In the latest letter, the writer calls Rizo a "motherf*****" and features violent editorial type cartoons, said King.

"I don't know if they [the cartoons] were from a newspaper, " she said. "On this one [cartoon], there is one Roman-type person stabbing another Roman-type person."

Although police do not know the identity of the author, the letters are postmarked from Pasadena and are signed "Esparza Family." Police do not have any suspects.

Detective Lisa Lasch is currently investigating the case. One paper has already been sent to the lab for fingerprinting, said Lasch.

Police would not answer if the letter contained any obvious threats.

"The only crime would be any possible threats," King said. "There is a First Amendment right to express your opinion."

Rizo could not be reached for comment.