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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPolice 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/
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Shoppers get down there's a varmint loose! Bang!!
silverweb
(16,402 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)"Licensed to kill squirrels (OK, gophers--close enough) by the government of the United Nations."
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)"You'll leave the store *now*, rodent!". *BAM*
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Niceguy1
(2,467 posts)Cha
(297,362 posts)CAG
(1,820 posts)Ba dom bom
Thank you, I'll be here all week. Please tip your waitstaff.
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)there goes his free donuts.
Zambero
(8,965 posts)Never a dull moment in Mayberry USA. Pass me that pie, Aunt Bee....
Mojo Electro
(362 posts)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)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.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)Blue Owl
(50,447 posts)Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)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)Reminds me of Bob Newhart's bit on the "Mrs. Grace L. Ferguson Airline & Storm Door Company," lol.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)especially in Tennessee, my Squirrel hunting dog comes from NC which is right next door,
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Countdown_3_2_1
(878 posts)Not sure just how a squirrel rates but a non-threatening family dog does not.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)that is why I live in a small town. everyone has to answer to the public.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Police Officer's former name: Barney Fife
Spirochete
(5,264 posts)That's scary enough for me...
newfie11
(8,159 posts)Go squirrel
B Calm
(28,762 posts)because of a squirrel? Are all the people in Mountain City as crazy as the police officer?
surrealAmerican
(11,362 posts)... why would they send an officer? Have they forgotten how to say no?
... slow day, I guess ...
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)...squirrel?
MineralMan
(146,318 posts)That's what I am. It's a freaking squirrel.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Danascot
(4,690 posts)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.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Wwweeeee!!!!
marmar
(77,084 posts)LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)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.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Another fine example.
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)laugh at the cop all you want...
I think he had the right to defend himself and the store customers
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Better keep it away from the birds