NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) - Two Massachusetts men who appeared in a profanity-laced rap video posted on the Internet in which police were threatened by name have pleaded not guilty to various charges.

Prosecutors say 28-year-old Jason Foley of Fairhaven and
24-year-old Matthew Ruffino of New Bedford were arraigned Monday in New Bedford District Court on two counts each of threatening to commit a crime, threatening to use a firearm, and witness intimidation.

They were ordered held without bail pending dangerousness
hearings next Monday.

Authorities say the four-minute video, peppered with images of
guns and the sound of gunfire, referred to a state trooper and a
probation officer by name and threatened violence against police.

The suspects were arrested Saturday.

Foley's mother says her son is not a threat.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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On Saturday, Nov. 21 State Police troopers assigned to the Gang Unit and the Bristol County Detective Unit arrested two men for making violent threats in a profanity-laced video posted on You Tube. Among the statements made by the defendants in the video are specific threats against a Massachusetts State Trooper and a New Bedford District Court Probation Officer. The video contains numerous images of firearms, police officers and police cars, and crime scenes. The violent rants in the video also make mention of New Bedford Police and, in some verses, warn police of consequences of pulling over or arresting those shown in the video.

At 12:15 a.m. Saturday State Troopers, with the assistance of New Bedford Police, arrested MATTHEW RUFINO, 24, 406 Potter St., New Bedford. He was booked at the State Police Dartmouth Barracks and held until his scheduled arraignment today in the New Bedford District Court.

At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Troopers, along with Fairhaven Police, arrested JASON FOLEY, 28, 115 Spring St., Fairhaven, at his home. He also was booked at the Dartmouth Barracks and held pending his scheduled arraignment today in New Bedford.

RUFINO and FOLEY are charged with two counts each of making threats to commit a crime; threats to use a firearm; and intimidation of a witness.

State Police have seized forensic evidence, and the investigation is ongoing in conjunction with the office of Bristol District Attorney Samuel Sutter.

-From the Bristol County DA's Office