[Drizzt]

Alleged Potato Gun Plot Lands Seven Suspects In Hot Water
Suspects Allegedly Targeted Law Enforcement Officials

POSTED: 6:08 p.m. EST February 25, 2003
UPDATED: 7:02 p.m. EST February 25, 2003

LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. -- Seven people are charged with attacking a Lenoir County deputy's house with a gun that shoots potatoes. Officers say the homemade device could have injured or killed someone.

A plot involving a potato launcher lands a group of young people in hot water.

Authorities said the suspects took a section of PVC pipe and placed a potato in it. The suspects then allegedly put chemicals in one end of the pipe and ignited it, firing the potato.

"They were trying to attack a fellow law enforcement officer and that inherently can cause problems," said Capt. Christopher Hill, of the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators believe the suspects, ranging in age from 16 to 23, were seeking revenge after deputies busted up a Friday night party that included underage drinking. Detectives say the suspects kicked the doors at several deputies' homes late at night.

When word got out the group would take things up a notch, the sheriff approved some stakeouts.

"We got lucky on this particular night because the first place these people pulled up was at a law enforcement officer's home and this officer actually witnessed the incident occur," Hill said.

No one was hurt, but the suspects were locked up for two felonies that include firing an explosive device into a home. The parent of one of the suspects told WRAL that he does not believe any of them were trying to hurt anyone, but he said this is not the time to make a public statement.

Authorities said the suspects were also videotaping their incidents. Six of the seven suspects are still in the Lenoir County Jail.

http://www.wral.com/news/2003973/detail.html

[Bottom Gun]

If only we had potato registration and ballistic fingerprinting of PVC pipe this targedy might not have occurred.

[El Tejon]

Reckless use of a potato gun--should they fry? If so, there will be an a peel in progress. It takes a lot of starch to attack a deputy's house. However, the experience may be tuber-ular to these young men. I wonder if their parents will skin them?

[Quartus]

Tejon, you should be skinned for that!



These kids should be whipped. It will be interesting to see what kind of punishment the court cooks up. Keep your eyes peeled.

[El Tejon]

Quartus, your comments are nothing but gravy. Man, the day has me broiled, I'm mashed.

[TallPine]

"They were trying to attack a fellow law enforcement officer and that inherently can cause problems," said Capt. Christopher Hill, of the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office.

Huh ............... :confused:

So is attacking a "fellow law enforcement officer" some how worse than attacking one of us ordinary folks?


But I am glad they got caught - let them get away with this and eventually they will work their way up into launching watermelons at people's houses. :)

[coonan357]

KIrk and Quartus you two both owe me a keyboard !!!! boy am I fried !! :rolleyes:

[El Tejon]

coonan, we better knock it off or we'll end up in hot water with Preacherman.:D

[Master Blaster]

These jerks showed extreme disrespect for law enforcement and the rules of society. They committed an assault, even if it was only with a potato.

How many of you folks would have grabbed a shotgun, and hosed these jerks if they showed up at your house and fired potatos through your windows, or came an kicked your door in the middle of the night.

If they came and attacked and vandalized my house in the middle of the night, they would have needed a ride to the emergency room in an ambulance.

I hardly think that this is funny.

:fire:

[El Tejon]

Master, you mean if I knew they were shooting potatos? If so, no shoot.

If they came into the FBP with something that looked like a tankterror, whole different scenario. Perform the indicated response.

[cuchulainn]

...hot water?
...potatoes?

mmm mashed potatoes

[TheeBadOne]

Anyone here have experiance with potato guns? I have :D
I sure wouldn't aim one in the direction where a person might be, they're pretty impressive.

[Tamara]

The very simple moral of the story here is: "Don't be shooting at folks' houses. With anything."

[P95Carry]

Anyone here have experiance with potato guns? I have TheebadOne ....... Me too ...... built three ... 1", 1 1/2" and 2" bore ........ run em on starting spray. I did way back do some math, having used a chrono .... and damned if I remember what the figures came out at but .... the ft lbs at the muzzle is well high enough to not wanna get in the way!!

My 2" one hurls a potato ''piston'' approx 165 yds ..... pretty crazy tho using these for ''attack'' purposes ..... not goin to earn any brownie points!:p