The Baltimore police, with assistance from the FBI, are investigating an anonymous threat to a Sun editor that warns about the newspaper's coverage of slum housing issues.

James Asher, who as city editor supervises reporters covering Baltimore, received the letter Thursday. The newspaper has recently published several articles about housing, including a front-page account of drug dealers and other criminals who have invested in slum housing in East Baltimore.

The letter is being investigated by the city Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit, and the FBI said it has offered its assistance.

"It is a situation which is taken very seriously," said city police spokesman Robert W. Weinhold Jr.

John Carroll, editor of The Sun, expressed concern yesterday about the threat but said it would not affect decisions about news coverage.

"Like any good newspaper, we intend to cover important stories in our city, including this one," Carroll said. "As a precautionary measure, I am asking editors other than Jim Asher to take responsibility for coverage decisions on this subject."

Pub Date: 3/17/99