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damnedifIknow

(3,183 posts)
Sat Oct 26, 2013, 11:32 PM Oct 2013

Police officer fired after shooting at squirrel in store

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Officials in a Tennessee city said a police officer was fired for shooting his gun and using pepper spray in an attempt to get a squirrel out of a dollar store.

Mountain City Police Officer Jody Putnam went to a Dollar General in Johnson County on a report of a squirrel running loose in the store and police department records state the officer fired off his gun in an apparent attempt to kill or scare the animal, WJHL-TV, Johnson City, Tenn., reported Friday.

"Shooting back there, of course that should not have been, that should not have happened," property owner Carl Duffield said.

Duffield said Putnam's gunfire did not get rid of the squirrel, so the officer then used pepper spray while customers were still inside the store.

"There was a lot of people that come out and just like me they came out and they were coughing and a hacking it was comical," Duffield said, "but I'm sure they didn't feel that way, the customers that came out."

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/10/25/Police-officer-fired-after-shooting-at-squirrel-in-store/UPI-86881382732972/

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Police officer fired after shooting at squirrel in store (Original Post) damnedifIknow Oct 2013 OP
DUH! Thinkingabout Oct 2013 #1
Yeah I mean what the hell? damnedifIknow Oct 2013 #4
... silverweb Oct 2013 #2
Is he related to... pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #3
Now that's hilarious! Brigid Oct 2013 #5
The store owners should count their blessings there was no TNT available pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #8
Or that EugeneTackleberry and his Colt Python weren't around. Brigid Oct 2013 #10
The news does have a bit of Caddy Shack character in it. nt bluestate10 Oct 2013 #9
poor decision Liberal_in_LA Oct 2013 #6
dinner, yummy Niceguy1 Oct 2013 #7
Store kill! Cha Oct 2013 #24
Thats nuts! CAG Oct 2013 #11
fucking idiot cop!! gopiscrap Oct 2013 #12
Barney should've never been given that bullet! Zambero Oct 2013 #13
WFT? Mojo Electro Oct 2013 #14
Squirrels can always outsmart humans. Michigan Alum Oct 2013 #18
Police suspect the squirrel had an accomplice... pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #19
stupid ass n/t TorchTheWitch Oct 2013 #15
It must have Screwy Squirrel to outwit him so easily: kentauros Oct 2013 #16
Protecting the upscale merchandise at Dollar General Blue Owl Oct 2013 #17
They needed law enforcement? Shankapotomus Oct 2013 #20
Mountain City Police Department and Rodent Extermination, Inc. pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #21
Gee whiz, there are dogs that will catch squirrels hollysmom Oct 2013 #22
When you absolutely have to send the very best... pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #23
Police don't get fired for shooting dogs. Countdown_3_2_1 Oct 2013 #29
they don't always go down for shooting kids, hollysmom Oct 2013 #37
BREAKING UPDATE cui bono Oct 2013 #25
Elmer Fudd with a badge? Spirochete Oct 2013 #26
So the squirrel won lol newfie11 Oct 2013 #27
Why in heavens name would you call the police B Calm Oct 2013 #28
... and if you did call ... surrealAmerican Oct 2013 #30
When all you have is a gun and pepper spray, every problem looks like a homicidal HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #31
Beyond words... MineralMan Oct 2013 #32
I wonder if this is the little fella damnedifIknow Oct 2013 #33
This reminds me of something that happened to a friend Danascot Oct 2013 #34
. jsr Oct 2013 #35
That is one happy squirrel nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #44
His picture needs to go next to the "dumbass" entry in the dictionary. marmar Oct 2013 #36
Did the squirrel get out alive? nt LiberalElite Oct 2013 #38
Not sure what happened to the perp damnedifIknow Oct 2013 #41
Standards for law enforcement are extremely low. tabasco Oct 2013 #39
OK you guys... pipi_k Oct 2013 #40
That is new dangerous critter nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #43
Squirrel!!!!! Initech Oct 2013 #42
Images from store video show the officer was justified... sarisataka Oct 2013 #45
Witnesses reported that before engaging the perp, the officer was heard exclaiming... pinboy3niner Oct 2013 #46

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
5. Now that's hilarious!
Sat Oct 26, 2013, 11:47 PM
Oct 2013

"Licensed to kill squirrels (OK, gophers--close enough) by the government of the United Nations."

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
10. Or that EugeneTackleberry and his Colt Python weren't around.
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:00 AM
Oct 2013

"You'll leave the store *now*, rodent!". *BAM*

Zambero

(8,965 posts)
13. Barney should've never been given that bullet!
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:16 AM
Oct 2013

Never a dull moment in Mayberry USA. Pass me that pie, Aunt Bee....

Mojo Electro

(362 posts)
14. WFT?
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:20 AM
Oct 2013

What kind of rootin' tootin' shoot'em up nonsense is this shit right here?



"Shooting back there, of course that should not have been, that should not have happened,"

Ya think?

He didn't even get the squirrel. That's a bad ass squirrel! Well done, little fella.

Michigan Alum

(335 posts)
18. Squirrels can always outsmart humans.
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:34 AM
Oct 2013

They keep on trying to come up with one bird feeder after another that can outsmart squirrels. Saw a hilarious special on PBS on how squirrels kept on outsmarting people. They had an obstacle course that had about 10 or 15 different things a squirrel had to do in order to get into a bird feeder and they figured it out in about 10-15 minutes and once they had it figure out, they remembered it forever.

They had to run to one side and touch a level, then to another side to tap a button, then pull on something, etc. I doubt that most humans could figure it out that quickly much less remember the exact process perfectly the second, third, and fourth time.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
20. They needed law enforcement?
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:58 AM
Oct 2013

To get a squirrel out of a store?

I've gotten squirrels out of buildings before. No one ever felt we needed gunfire to do it.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
21. Mountain City Police Department and Rodent Extermination, Inc.
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 01:05 AM
Oct 2013

Reminds me of Bob Newhart's bit on the "Mrs. Grace L. Ferguson Airline & Storm Door Company," lol.

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
22. Gee whiz, there are dogs that will catch squirrels
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 01:56 AM
Oct 2013

especially in Tennessee, my Squirrel hunting dog comes from NC which is right next door,

Countdown_3_2_1

(878 posts)
29. Police don't get fired for shooting dogs.
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 06:09 AM
Oct 2013

Not sure just how a squirrel rates but a non-threatening family dog does not.

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
37. they don't always go down for shooting kids,
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:10 PM
Oct 2013

that is why I live in a small town. everyone has to answer to the public.

 

B Calm

(28,762 posts)
28. Why in heavens name would you call the police
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 05:39 AM
Oct 2013

because of a squirrel? Are all the people in Mountain City as crazy as the police officer?

surrealAmerican

(11,362 posts)
30. ... and if you did call ...
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 08:33 AM
Oct 2013

... why would they send an officer? Have they forgotten how to say no?


... slow day, I guess ...

Danascot

(4,690 posts)
34. This reminds me of something that happened to a friend
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 09:45 AM
Oct 2013

He lived in a second floor apartment in Elmira, NY and one evening he saw a large rat. Not knowing what to do he called an acquaintance who was a cop and lived in the same complex. The off-duty cop had been relaxing with a few beers and on hearing his friend had a rat problem, of course he showed up with his service piece. One thing led to another and the result was that the cop shot up the guys hot water heater which flooded his apartment and the one below and most of the town's on-duty police responded to a report of shots fired surrounding the complex with a dozen vehicles, sirens wailing and lights flashing. The rat disappeared unscathed.

damnedifIknow

(3,183 posts)
41. Not sure what happened to the perp
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 01:11 PM
Oct 2013

but if he/she did get out alive that is one squirrel that shouldn't be messed with again. Just back away and leave the squirrel alone.

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)
40. OK you guys...
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 12:41 PM
Oct 2013

laugh at the cop all you want...

I think he had the right to defend himself and the store customers



pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
46. Witnesses reported that before engaging the perp, the officer was heard exclaiming...
Sun Oct 27, 2013, 01:42 PM
Oct 2013
..."Help me, Obi-Wan!"

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