
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993                   TAG: 9309180055
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

FALSE COAL STRIKE REPORTS ON THE RISE

State police will seek prosecution of people who make false or exaggerated claims of coal strike-related violence, the head of the state police said Friday.

The number of such incidents has increased steadily since the strike began May 10, said Thom Kirk, deputy secretary of public safety. Kirk said both sides have been making false claims.

"When we find out who called those in, we're going to arrest them for it," he said.

Troopers currently are investigating several false or exaggerated calls, which takes troopers away from their regular duties, Kirk said.

"That hurts everybody in the state," he said.

He also said he expects the problem to get worse. - Associated Press

by CNB