European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday August 22,1990 7 a major on charges Washington apr seven major toy distributors were sued monday by the Justice department and the consumer product safety commission for Selling imported toys the government contended violated Federal safety standards. The suits against toys r us and six other companies charge that the toys arc unsafe because they contain excessive amounts of Lead paint or have Small parts that could choke children under age 3, the agencies said they were unaware of any injuries or deaths resulting from the toys some of which were seized from store shelves by government investigators. In a statement attorney general Dick Thornburgh called the lawsuits Quot an important step toward preventing even a single dangerous toy from reaching innocent  the lawsuits seek injunctions barring the companies from importing or Selling the toys. The lawsuits described a variety of  toy air planes or stuffed animals that violated the safety regulations. Many of the toys cited were labelled for use by children Over age 3, but the safety commission contended in court papers that the items were in fact intended for Small children who could choke on the parts. Commission spokesman Dan Rumill said the toys were mostly imported from Taiwan but also were colombian in coma since drinking soda with cocaine Dies Miami apr a Man who became comatose after drinking a colombian soft drink that had been laced with cocaine in an apparent smuggling scheme died monday after doctors disconnected life support equipment. Maximo Rene Menendez a 25-year-old colombian collapsed july 26 after drinking from a 6-Ouncc bottle of Pony Malta de Bavaria that contained Many limes the lethal dose of cocaine. Drinking just one Gram of the drug can be fatal investigators said. Quot his life support was disconnected at 5 02 . And he expired at 5 15,&Quot said Victor Maya executive director of Ami Kendall regional medical Center. A there was absolutely nothing that could be done for this  family had a court order to Cut off his life support on aug. 13 after neurologists concluded he had no brain activity. But his leg moved and he took shallow breaths after the Respirator was turned off the. Next Day. Doctors reconnected the equipment and the family asked for a second opinion by experts at the University of Miami who agreed Menendez was brain dead without Hope of recovery. Maya said. Fri experts have discovered at least 45 contaminated Bott Les containing 20 to 40 Grams of the drug in a 1,000-Case shipment of the soft drink. Federal officials warned Consumers that hundreds of cases of Pony Malta distributed in South Florida were unaccounted for. The Fri wants to question Hugo Alfredo Rios whose Miami Sweet company imported the shipment trom Cerv Ceria Bavaria . In Colombia. The bottler said Rios was unauthorized to import the drink. Stateside made in Hong Kong China and South Korea. Besides toys r us which is based in Paramus n.j., the government also sued child world inc. Of Avon mass. Lionel Leisure inc. Of Philadelphia value merchants inc. Of Milwaukee ill co toy company Usa inc. Of new York beachcombers International inc of fort Meyers Fla. And division sales inc. Of Itasca Iii. Chief executives of the companies were also named As defendants in the civil suits. The complaints also named the chief executives of the companies As defendants in the civil suits. The court papers said each of the companies had been previously notified that the toys violated safety regulations. Some of the toys have been recalled by distributors the safety commission said a woman who answered the phone at Lionel Leisure declined to comment saying she was unaware of the lawsuit. A until we receive Legal service As far As we re concerned we Haven to been sued by anybody a said the woman who refused to identify herself. An official of division sales who also refused to identify himself declined to comment saying he a did no to know anything about  officials of other companies sued were not immediately available for  Christina Pizzimenti 10, of Somers conn., gets welcomed Home from the Hospital monday with a giant sign and a big hug from her father John who donated a kidney for her transplant. Her father also happened to deliver Christina at Home in 1980.3 bodies found in Home after gunman surrenders Lake Elsinore Calif. Apr a gunman shooting wildly while holed up in a Mobile Home for 10 hours wounded two sheriffs deputies and apparently killed three people inside before surrendering monday authorities said. A Heinz Joachim Podszuweit 30, described As a survivalist with a military background was arrested at 9 05 . After keeping a special weapons team from the Riverside county sheriffs department at Bay since late sunday. Inside the Home deputies found three bodies As Well As a High powered Rifle and hand grenades detective Henry Sawicki said. The names of the dead weren to immediately available., a it appears we have an individual who went mentally Over the Brink a sheriff Cois Byrd said. The shooting began about 11 30 . Sunday when deputies responding to neighbor complaints were met with gunfire Sawicki said. One Deputy was shot in the foot another grazed on the  safely lands plane after Pilot husband Dies Muncie ind. Apr a a woman safely landed a private plane after heir husband died while flying the aircraft. Joan s. Bailey of Trotwood Ohio radioed the Delaware county Airport that her husband had collapsed. Traffic controllers closed All runways and talked her through the Safe Landing. A she did a wonderful Job a fire chief Tommy Crawford said. A it was hard for us to believe. She looked like she just set it Down in a Field of  Bailey a husband Robert e. Bailey 48, apparently suffered a heart attack officials said. He was pronounced dead at Ball memorial Hospital. The Baileys were in route from Dayton Ohio to Muncie in a single engine Grumman american Tiger. The wife whose age Wasny to available told investigators she did not know How to Fly the plane.2 injured when winds flip us air plane causing fire Charlotte , apr a us air com Rauler plane was flipped Over monday by a gust of wind from a thunderstorm at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and burst into flames leaving two people with minor injuries officials said. The plane was waiting on the runway for passengers to Board when a gust of wind estimated at 77 Mph overturned it said Jan Haggerty a spokeswoman for Charlotte based chair which operated the plane under contract to us air. The Pilot and a flight attendant escaped before the fire she  two injured people whose names were withheld were taken to Carolinas medical Center where they were treated for cuts and bruises and released said Catherine Rencher a Hospital spokeswoman. Jerry Orr Airport aviation director said the $7 million plane which seats 36 people was a total loss Law plans to announce its strike target aug. 28 Detroit up1 a the United Auto workers will announce aug. 28 which of the nations big three automakers it will choose As its strike target a Union spokeswoman said  a awl a International executive Board will meet aug. 27 to review the bargaining with general motors corp., Ford motor co. And Chrysler corp. Man convicted in . Rape attempted murder Syracuse . Apr a jury on monday convicted a 23-year-old Man of raping beating and stabbing a Jogger who staggered for help with a knife stuck in her neck. Erwin Williams of Syracuse was convicted of second degree attempted murder. Rape sexual abuse unlawful imprisonment assault and Possession of weapons in the i 986 attack. A second Man Ronald Joek 32, of Brasher Falls pleaded guilty to second degree attempted murder last month in a plea bargain with prosecutors. Jock along with the victim testified against Williams during his we Klong trial in stale supreme court the states trial level court. It took jurors just 2 c hours to reach a verdict. Williams confessed to the attack but later refused to sign the written statement be gave police. Quot Given the District attorneys Case 1 done to think lie expected to walk out of Here a said his attorney Wiiliam Rose. I he victim a 43-year old suburban so reuse woman was choked beaten and stabbed 11 times during the sept. 0, 1986, attack which occurred while she was jogging in Onondaga Lake Park m this City 250 Miles Northwest of new v Ork. She walked about two Miles for help with a knife protruding from her neck. I his is one of the most heinous crimes Ever committed in this county Quot said Onondaga county assistant District attorney Mary eel Aseo. A a i he defendant got his just deserts. Justice was  the vet diet was handed Down just two Days after three youths were convicted in Manhattan in the much publicized 1989 rape and assault of a Central Park Jogger. Like the Syracuse woman she survived despite serious injuries. But unlike the Syracuse victim the Central Park Jogger suffered brain damage and could not identify her attackers. Felasco said she would seek consecutive sentences on the rape and attempted murder charges when Williams is sentenced by state supreme court Justice Walter Gorman on sept. 5.the maximum sentence for each is -3 Vears