[Drizzt]

Senior stops burglar with shovel

MAC TRUEMAN
Telegraph-Journal

As he fled police a 32-year-old burglary suspect ran smack into an elderly man shovelling his walkway in Saint John Friday night. The suspect told the shoveller he would shoot him if he didn't get out of the way.

That was a big mistake. The pursuing police officer came around the corner to find the fugitive was now running toward him, and begging him to call off the man who had clobbered him with a shovel.

"The guy went to hospital and got three stitches to close the cut over his eye," Sgt. David Arsenault said, adding, "It was just a plastic shovel."

The suspect is expected to appear in court this week on charges of breaking into the car from which a police patrol had flushed him, as well as of breaking into a nearby house whose broken window was connected by a trail of foot tracks to the parked car. He will also be charged with uttering a death threat to the snow shoveller, and with breaking an earlier parole.

There are no charges pending against the shoveller.

Police did not find a gun or any weapon on the suspect, the sergeant said.

http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=CE&Date=20030120&Category=TPEBRIEF&ArtNo=301200031&Ref=AR&SectionCat=FRONTPAGE

[4v50 Gary]

Old soldiers never forget to how to use the shovel. Betcha anything this old guy was a soldier.

[Freedom in theSkies]

If the Canadian Gov`t had trust in its`citizens, they could carry defensive weapons more substantial than plastic snow shovels. As it is, I`m betting the perp. is going to file an "assult with a deadly weapon" charge against the old guy and knowing the political mindset, the perp will win, because the old guy used excessive force...:cuss: :fire: :evil: :banghead:

[Standing Wolf]

<sarcasm> Obviously, what Canada needs is snow shovel registration! </sarcasm>

[Autolite]

Canada does have a 'Snow Removal Implement' registry. All shovels, spades, and scoops are now tracked by the feds. Plastic shovels under 18 inches in blade width are "non-restricted". Metal blades or any other snow removal device with 'an effective blade of over 18 inches in width' are classified as "restricted" and require verification of having attended a federally sponsored snow removal course in order to qualify for a restricted 'SRI' acquisition licence. Ice chippers are now 'prohibited', but the law is not retro-active. This means that if you are able to demonstrate that you were in legal possession of an ice chipper before Dec 25th of 1994, then you may keep your present ice chipper (but you will not be permitted to purchase a new one when you current one wears out). Toy or 'replica' shovels are effectively banned. Owner's of facimile shovels or fake scoops that are 'designed or constructed in such a manner that a reasonable person would perceive the item to be a functional 'SRI', must turn in their shovel to the RCMP NLT the fall of 2003.

All plows, graders, and snow blowers are now deemed 'government use only', but special circumstances may apply to currently qualified Zamboni operators. (Popular Canadian public opinion reflects that no honest person needs to remove more than 1/2 a cubic foot of snow in one scoop anyway).

For further details and laws 'coming into force', you can check the government website at http://pile/it/high.gc.ca or simply phone 1-800-SNO-WJOB ...

[BlackArrow]

The dreaded "black assault shovel" handled by "shovel-man>>:D

[grampster]

"I wanna drive....the ZAM BO NI".......

[Fly320s]

"It was just a plastic shovel."

Obviously, it was a Glock.

[Freedom in theSkies]

Maybe Skunkabilly can show us a picture of a Tactical SRI...;)