The following is an article that appeared in the now defuct Contact with Non-human Intelligence News (CNI News) e-newsletter. This article was written in November 1998:

OF SPECIAL INTEREST
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DR. REED'S CONTROVERSIAL ALIEN ENCOUNTER
Did Alien Kill Dog & Man Kill Alien in Washington State?

[Among the more graphic tales of alien encounter told in recent times is the story of Dr. Jonathan Reed. Accompanied by still photos posted on the internet and rumors of videotaped evidence, Reed told his story on November 11, 1998 on Art Bell's late night Coast to Coast AM radio program. To many listeners, Reed and his associate Robert Raith sounded altogether believable; but to many
others, the story smacked of low-grade theatrics. CNI News thanks independent researcher Royce J. Myers III for this report on Dr. Reed's alien encounter. --EDITOR]

By Royce J. Myers III

According to Dr. Jonathan Reed, his encounter with an alien took place sometime during October 1996 in the Cascade Mountain woods of Washington State while hiking with his dog. At one point during the hike, Reed says, his dog became agitated and ran ahead of him barking. Concerned the animal was in
danger after hearing it howl like it was "being mauled," Reed grabbed a tree branch about the size of a baseball bat and went to investigate. Upon reaching the site, Reed found his dog attacking a humanoid creature. The creature then attacked the dog, "literally tearing the head off." The dog was reduced to
ashes -- Reed described it as having "imploded."

Reed then claims to have lunged at the alien, striking it in the head with the branch. The alien, after being struck, screamed and fell to the ground.

An hour after assaulting the alien and trying to regain his composure, Reed heard a humming sound coming from the woods. Seeking the source, he says, he observed a "large, wedge shaped, black triangle" hovering low to the ground. He also called it an "obelisk." Reed, equipped with a 35mm camera and 8mm video camera, proceeded to photograph and film both the "obelisk" and alien, as he remained at the scene for about three hours. Reed says he then wrapped the alien body in a thermal blanket, took it home and stored it in a freezer. {Two closeup photos of the alien's head, apparently lying on the shiny thermal blanket, and one photo of the alleged "obelisk" craft, have circulated on the internet. - ed]

The next day his friend, known only as "Gary," came over after Reed contacted him. Reed stated that "Gary" contacted Peter Davenport of the National UFO Reporting Center and started asking "what if" questions, such as, "What if we had a dead alien body?" [Peter Davenport has told CNI News that he does not recall speaking to "Gary" or Dr. Reed at the time of this incident.] Reed also claims that his friend "Gary" has been missing for the last 2 years.

Reed says he was in possession of the dead alien body for about 10 days, during which he claims to have been under surveillance, had unknown persons going through his home, and had two attempts made on his life. But the tale took another unexpected twist when, he says, he heard a thumping sound coming
from the freezer. Opening the freezer door, Reed says he heard a scream, then realized that the alien (which he referred to as "Freddy") was not dead. Frightened by the now live alien, Reed slammed the freezer door and ran into his home.

Days later, Reed says, he was returning from securing some of his evidence when he sighted three vans and observed unknown persons going into his home. Reed left, and upon returning the next day found that his home had been totally ransacked. The majority of his evidence was missing, including a
videotape of the alien actually moving. Also missing were the alien and the freezer in which it was stored. The only evidence he has left, Reed says, is about 20 photographs, photographic negatives, and two videotapes that run about 6 minutes each. Reed has since gone into hiding for fear of his life.

Also appearing on the November 11, 1998 Coast To Coast AM show was Robert Raith. Reed said he was put in contact with Raith because "I'm not a writer and I needed some help to make this into a real, tangible, full, start-to- finish episode, so that I could tell the story." At the end of the program, Robert Raith told listeners interested in more information to contact the San Diego UFO Society.

Rob Baldwin, director of the San Diego UFO Society and a mediator of information for Reed and Raith, says his involvement stems from a mutual friend, Ms. Chris Fine, who contacted him regarding the incident. Baldwin claims to have seen the video taken by Reed and says, "It's pretty interesting." Regarding an analysis of the evidence, Baldwin stated, "They're not interested in proving anything. Especially they don't, I think, care what other people think about it. It may be naive, or a bold stroke."

Baldwin says Reed did not come forward with the story sooner because "he was worried about his own safety." When asked whether or not he believed the incident to be genuine, Baldwin said, "This story needs to be felt and it needs to be intellectually experienced as well. I'm trying to keep a relative
balance between the two."

Chris Fine, who describes herself as a friend and business manager of Reed and Raith, says their only interest is in telling the story and getting the information to the public. When asked if it would be possible to view the video or photos taken by Reed, Fine declined to do so, saying many security and safety factors were involved. According to Fine, a female associate was in the process of delivering a copy of the video via FedEx to Art Bell when an unknown assailant came from behind and "body slammed" her, driving her head into an automobile. The woman allegedly required medical treatment, receiving seven stitches. Fine says the assailant took the video but did not take the woman's purse nor the keys to her BMW. Another copy of the video was delivered to Bell at a later time, Fine said.

When asked when the video would be released, Fine said, "The video is going to be released, just not immediately." Fine stated that the story would be told through a book which is now being edited, and in addition to the video there are negotiations at this time for a movie project. Fine said that the incident
is "an opportunity to bring more understanding that we are not alone." When asked about having the evidence analyzed, Fine stated, "We're not interested in engaging in any conflict or debate," and it would be left for the public to decide if the story is true or not. Fine also stated, "We want to show this to
the broadest possible audience." Fine added that since the incident was broadcast on Coast To Coast AM, there has been "a flood of phone calls and letters supporting Dr. Reed."

While Reed has supporters, he also has numerous critics. Those who are skeptical believe that the photos showing the "obelisk" are nothing more than digitally fabricated images. Inconsistencies in lighting and shadowing in the photos have been suggested. One critic pointed out that the "obelisk" seems
absurdly small in relation to ferns and foliage in the picture, suggesting the possibility that it was cut and pasted in.

As for the alien in the photos, graphic artist Gary Val Tenuta (CodeUFO@aol.com), among others, has noted that its appearance is very similar to aliens depicted in the Paramount Pictures film "Fire In the Sky." An audio recording of the alien's scream, played on Coast To Coast AM (and available as
an audio file on Art Bell's website, www.artbell.com) also resembles a sound from the "Fire in the Sky" soundtrack, Tenuta says.

Dr. Reed claims to have had his alien video and video camera analyzed by an expert, but the name of this expert has yet to be released.

The motives of Reed and his associates are also being questioned. Chris Fine's remarks about a book and possible movie deal suggest a lucrative financial angle. The ransacking of Reed's house and the loss of nearly all the evidence -- including his dog "reduced to ashes" and the long-missing "Gary" -- is
perhaps too convenient. Even Reed's real identity and professional credentials have not been verified -- is he, in fact, a doctor? In answer to the critics, Reed said on Art Bell's program, "I have gone through this process before and I will provide the evidence under the right circumstances." What those
circumstances entail is unclear at this time. One thing is clear: the controversy will continue, and time will tell.

Reed's photos and a transcript of the Coast To Coast Am broadcast are posted at www.artbell.com. Rob Baldwin can be contacted through the San Diego UFO Society, P.O. Box 34351 San Diego, California 92103, or by phone at 619-299-9157. CNI News will continue to update this story as it evolves.