According to this Dakota County Criminal Complaint, an Apple Valley man was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm after he drunkenly fired his gun 4 or 5 times in a densely populated area of the city “during a dream”.
From the complaint:
On February 14, 2013 at approximately 9:36 p.m., Apple Valley Police officers were dispatched to a residence located on Elm Drive in Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota to investigate a possible burglary complaint. Dispatch advised the male, later identified as Richard Joseph Carothers, called reporting his wallet and phone were missing. A few moments later, dispatched advised Carothers reported his pistol was also stolen from his home. While a Dakota County dispatcher was speaking with Carothers, a neighbor (J.H.) called 911 to report her son heard 4-5 loud “pops” and she believed the “pops” were either fireworks or gun fire.
[...]
Shortly after hearing the loud “pop or bangs”, J.H. said her neighbor, Carothers, stepped outside and began yelling “call 911”. She explained Carothers appeared intoxicated and very agitated. She stated Carothers told her someone had stolen several items from his residence.
[...]
When police positioned themselves outside Carothers’ residence, Carothers, stepped outside. Carothers immediately told officers they did not need to worry because “I already cracked off some rounds, man.” Police located six spent shell casings in the snow right outside the front entrance of Carothers’ residence. When police began asking Carothers questions about whether he had fired the gunshots in the area of the residence, Carothers continued to indicate he was concerned about his wallet and pistol that he said had been stolen.
Police spoke with Carothers again to inquire what he may know about the situation. Carothers stated he had been sleeping and believed some of the events that lead to him calling 911 were actually part of a dream. Carothers explained in his dream he was sleeping on the couch in his home when his dog became upset and woke him up. He said he became upset because his dog was upset. He said he then looked around and determined his wallet had been stolen from his residence. Carothers stated as he was remembering his dream, he remembered he had walked into the bedroom and had taken a 9mm pistol out of his nightstand. An officer asked Carothers if he had fired the pistol in his dream to which Carothers indicated he had fired the pistol. He explained he walked outside, near his front door, and shot his pistol. When an officer asked Carothers what he shot at, Carothers claimed he shot at an unknown person running from his home. When Carothers was asked if he had in fact been shooting at a dog that was running from his residence, Carothers admitted he had shot at a dog. He explained he then walked back inside and hid the pistol in a bedroom under some covers. Police subsequently located the pistol wedged behind some blankets and a television inside the bedroom.
[...]
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered Apple Valley Police had dispatched officers to Carothers residence earlier in the day at approximately 2:00 p.m. Police were dispatched to Carothers residence at his request. Carothers reported around 2:00 p.m. that a neighbor’s dog was in his yard and had acted aggressively towards him. He told the investigating officer that the next time the dog came in to his yard; he would use his 9mm pistol on the dog.
So which do you think it is? Do you think it’s a dream? The dog? He really thought there were stolen items? He was just hammered? Do you think the single felony count of recklessly discharging a firearm is enough to charge this man with to keep him from doing something as stupid in the future? Have you ever heard gunshots in your neighborhood? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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February 20th, 2013 at 7:47 am
Angry drunk with a gun… perfect.
February 20th, 2013 at 8:40 am
I prefer a Desert Eagle .50 for crapping dogs, but I guess it depends on the breed.
February 20th, 2013 at 8:44 am
Another convincing argument against gun control.
Can’t you see he has a mental illness and thus should get help from a mental health professional as directed by the NRA?
So just send him to gun lover’s addiction treatment center and all will be good.
This is a disease, this man should not be charged with any crime.
February 20th, 2013 at 11:27 am
mental illness my arse, he had a case of 80 proof flu.
as far as spot, king, fluffy or rex goes, stay the fuck outta my yard or i may ‘dream’ of the following.
sank, the .50 kicks a little too much when i’m blasting out my car window:) i prefer a 1911. a ‘bit’ easier on the wrist.
bb
February 20th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Sank,
We live in a world in which one of America’s most beloved sweethearts who suffered with mental illness killed her dog with a gun.
How dare you make fun of dog murder.
lefty
February 20th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
My dreams usually involve forgetting my locker combination at Metcalf, not this weird shit.
February 24th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I’m one block over and I heard that. I thought it was fireworks because that happens a lot around hear. Good to know I have a crazy guy in the neighborhood…
February 24th, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Lefty-
you still have a bottle of Surly Five?
February 25th, 2013 at 7:47 am
linkstorinks,
Yes. I also have a new bottle of Surly Pentagram, which may or may not be a recreation of Surly V. Though my Surly V has been aging at cellar temp for almost two years.
Why do you ask?
lefty
February 25th, 2013 at 9:10 am
road_rascal, everyone has at least one idiot in their neighborhood. You’re lucky enough to know exactly where yours lives (253 Elm Drive, Apple Valley) and who exactly it is (Richard Joseph Carothers).
That’s Richard Carothers, 253 Elm Drive, Apple Valley, MN.
p.s. – Hope the charge holds up. It’s a felony and that’ll relieve your neighborhood crazy guy — who also has a criminal record of domestic assault, DWI, making harassing phone calls, and driving on a canceled license — of the burden of owning guns. (Legally anyway).
February 26th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Well, all the knuckleheads seem to gather in one area. This guy is less than 100 yards away from RC.
http://applevalley-rosemount.kstp.com/content/former-eagan-school-custodian-charged-theft
February 26th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
“Yes. I also have a new bottle of Surly Pentagram, which may or may not be a recreation of Surly V. Though my Surly V has been aging at cellar temp for almost two years.
Why do you ask?
lefty”
Was wondering if you would be open to a trade, I have plenty of Pentagram and A couple bottle of Darkness…
February 27th, 2013 at 9:39 am
linkstorinks,
Help me with this one. Isn’t Pentagram basically Surly V? I have not yet tried the Pentagram, but the description of it is virtually identical (as I recall), including the same yeast strain. Are you looking to collect or hoping that it aged well?
I am not a Darkness fan since I think Worthy Adversary is a superior product and I can get that in a growler for $18. Or if I want a treat, the Peace Coffee infused WA is now on sale for $15 for a 750.
I’d take two Surly Syx for the Surly V however if you have some of those.
Let me know what you think.
lefty
P.S. Since this original post was about a drunk fuck nozzle, I see no reason linkstorinks and I can’t talk about beer here.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Lefty-
Five was a collaboration of Five barrels of Pentagram, at distribution date I think Five had more pucker than it did as it aged as we tried one over the summer for Leprechaun Days. I just wanted one to do a side by side since I have 10 bottles of Pentagram and am going to cellar a bunch but some are being traded for Russian River stuff.
I traded off my last bottle of Syx as I did not care for it at all, just not my style with the high ABV.
March 4th, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Um yeah so the original complaint from this guy was about our dog, the kids let her out and she actually smiles so when she’s happy and wagging her tail and “smiling” she can look aggressive, I have young kids who jump on her all day, the dog is completely harmless and considering he has a clear view into our back yard and see’s her daily he should know this. This guy has never talked to us about our dog, he’s never talked to us period. We didn’t even know the rest of this happened until another neighbor asked about it and mentioned we should check out the paper. I’m not pro gun control but this guy makes it really hard.
March 4th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Two pieces of advice:
1. Start taking responsibility for your dog, no matter how nice you think it is.
2. Get in touch with the Dakota County Attorney and do what you can to ensure the felony charge stays a felony (thus, making it more difficult for this guy to have a gun).