Berg
Member
06/16/05
http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/06/16/revolver9.html
Man reports finding gun while fishing in river
By Amy L. Ashbridge
Staff Writer
Scott Fletcher of Otego said he caught more than he planned when he went fishing with his stepchildren Sunday afternoon.
"I caught a gun in the river," Fletcher said Wednesday.
State police at Oneonta said the gun was a .38-caliber revolver.
It appears to be a police-style revolver, troopers said, but it’s not clear how long it had been in the river or how it got there.
"It was pretty much full of mud," Fletcher said. "It was still in the holster."
Fletcher said he was fishing at the Wells Bridge access site on the Susquehanna River.
Fletcher’s stepchildren had been arguing about who was going to use the fishing pole, he said, and he decided to cast it to make things easier.
Keeana, Fletcher’s 9-year-old stepdaughter, went to reel in what she hoped was a fish, he said.
But Fletcher said the line got stuck.
"I was trying to snap it because I thought it was caught on something," he said. "I wasn’t expecting anything."
Fletcher said he thought it was a stick — until the catch started to come out of the water.
"That’s not a stick," Fletcher said of his reaction. "That’s a gun."
Fletcher then called 911.
"I don’t know if it is an emergency," Fletcher said he told the dispatcher, "but I caught a gun."
Fletcher said he didn’t want to touch the gun because he didn’t know if it might have been involved in a crime.
"Nobody throws a perfectly good pistol in the river," he said.
Troopers said the gun was rusty and had been in the river for a while. The serial numbers on the revolver were worn, troopers said, but it might be possible to send it out to be traced if necessary.
Fletcher said he asked if he could keep the gun if it wasn’t needed as evidence in a crime. Although he doesn’t have a pistol permit, Fletcher said he’d apply for one if it meant he could keep the weapon.
"It’s not every day you catch a gun," he said.
Unfortunately, Fletcher said, the gun was the only thing the group caught that afternoon.
The gun is now at the Oneonta station, troopers said.
http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/06/16/revolver9.html
Man reports finding gun while fishing in river
By Amy L. Ashbridge
Staff Writer
Scott Fletcher of Otego said he caught more than he planned when he went fishing with his stepchildren Sunday afternoon.
"I caught a gun in the river," Fletcher said Wednesday.
State police at Oneonta said the gun was a .38-caliber revolver.
It appears to be a police-style revolver, troopers said, but it’s not clear how long it had been in the river or how it got there.
"It was pretty much full of mud," Fletcher said. "It was still in the holster."
Fletcher said he was fishing at the Wells Bridge access site on the Susquehanna River.
Fletcher’s stepchildren had been arguing about who was going to use the fishing pole, he said, and he decided to cast it to make things easier.
Keeana, Fletcher’s 9-year-old stepdaughter, went to reel in what she hoped was a fish, he said.
But Fletcher said the line got stuck.
"I was trying to snap it because I thought it was caught on something," he said. "I wasn’t expecting anything."
Fletcher said he thought it was a stick — until the catch started to come out of the water.
"That’s not a stick," Fletcher said of his reaction. "That’s a gun."
Fletcher then called 911.
"I don’t know if it is an emergency," Fletcher said he told the dispatcher, "but I caught a gun."
Fletcher said he didn’t want to touch the gun because he didn’t know if it might have been involved in a crime.
"Nobody throws a perfectly good pistol in the river," he said.
Troopers said the gun was rusty and had been in the river for a while. The serial numbers on the revolver were worn, troopers said, but it might be possible to send it out to be traced if necessary.
Fletcher said he asked if he could keep the gun if it wasn’t needed as evidence in a crime. Although he doesn’t have a pistol permit, Fletcher said he’d apply for one if it meant he could keep the weapon.
"It’s not every day you catch a gun," he said.
Unfortunately, Fletcher said, the gun was the only thing the group caught that afternoon.
The gun is now at the Oneonta station, troopers said.
Bout half hour to 45 minutes north east of Binghamton.
right near one of the city's busiest parks where the highschool kids always hang out. Good message 
