[batson35]

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/oct/18/39/lions-tiger-and-bear-loose-muskingum-county-ar-792445/


http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2011/10/18/zanesville-exotic-animals-escape.html

 

[Patchman]

At about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, Lutz confirmed the preserve owner, Terry Thompson, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after opening up pens and cages.

Well, what was up with Thompson? I can understand wanting to kill yourself, and I thank him for not using "suicide-by-cop."

But his releasing the animals could have injured members of that community. Or the released animals would have died slow, agonizing deaths. Did he attempt to get some zoos to remove those animals?

 

[Patchman]

If a homeowner shot one of those released lions, or tigers or bears, it is hunting out-of-season, or without proper license or something?

Also, can that homeowner keep the carcass to have it turned into a trophy? Think of the stories he/she can tell!

 

[MeefZah]

That's some crazy sheet.

Making all the local news here, and I'm especially interested since I just left that area.

A few guys I know, that know the suspect, are doing the tired old "he was a great guy, we never would have figured him to do this...yadda-yadda-yadda".

The guy served prison time for firearms violations and was well known to county LE. The community is no doubt better off now, too bad about the animals though. Can't blame a tiger for being a tiger.

 

[50 Cent]

I've heard LEO jobs are what? 90% boredom 10% gut renching fear. Getting a call on your shift about having to go on safari would probably fall in the 10%. Along with wondering if you signing on for this part of "serve and protect" (ie chasing/being chased by large hungry carnivorous creatures) was part of the deal.

Although a few years back didn't the Chicago cops have to take down a tiger with their .40 cal sidearms? Balls of brass for sure.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

My shift partner and I were talking this morning about taking a week of and driving up to offer our assistance with hunting these dangers to society. :whistling:

Too bad his wife has his short and curlies too tight to let him make a trip anywhere.

 

[scottydl]

5-6 years back we had some crazy lady traveling cross country with her "pet tiger" (seriously) and it escaped from her pickup at a truck stop. I think every agency within 20 miles with flashing lights on their vehicles (including campus parking enforcement, haha) showed up to block off a perimeter on that one. Local animal control was completely ill-equipped to deal with it, and we even have a small zoo in town. It was eventually taken out by AR-15 similar to this story. Then the lady's son was arrested for running out in interstate traffic threatening to kill himself over his grief of the animal's death. Sheesh.

 

[MeefZah]

Then the lady's son was arrested for running out in interstate traffic threatening to kill himself over his grief of the animal's death.

Let him.

 

[batson35]

Bet there are a few deputies with new nicknames along the lines of "Tiger" & "Bear"

 

[Mayhem like Me]

Let him.

would have been one less stinker at occupy wall street.....


Hey wait a minute picture this.... we cordon off wall street....and let the exotic animals loose inside...The survivor ( IF ANY) gets the 2011 bonus of the CEO of his/her choice...hello SPIKE TV....

I can see a cartoon now of a Bear chomping through a occupied sleeping bag telling a Tiger " the outside is kinda bland but the inside is crunchy"...

 

[nitesit(+ an e)]

I give a lot of credit to the Sheriff of Muskingun County for making the correct decision. And I have a lot of respect for the Deputies and Police Officers and Troopers and Fish & Game Officers who had to fan out and find these dangerous animals. These officers had to dispatch the wild animals with sidearms and 5.56mm rifles. Had they known what they were going to encounter, I know that each officer would have wanted something of a LOT heavier caliber and have more daylight instead of looming darkness. Can you imagine the officers horror at having to kill bengal tigers, and doing so in an environment that heavily favored the animals, in the darkness and heavy rainfall, with available weapons which were basically slingshots?

Those cops did a valiant job of containing the situation against all odds. But hell, everybody here knows that.

As a side note, Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz is the son of Lieutenant Michael Lutz of the same department, who was killed in the line of duty by a gunman one early morning in 1994. I served as a deputy with that department in the 1980s and knew and served alongside Mike. That his son followed in his fathers career footsteps says a lot about both men, and Matt was a Deputy at the time of his fathers murder. I know "Lt Mike" is real proud of his son this week.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/678-lieutenant-michael-j-lutz