Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 12, 2008 13:33:11 GMT -4
>> Wayward Picatinny shell fragment hits Jefferson house; family's cat dies. Piece of projectile slams through roof, into girl's bedroom
By ROB JENNINGS • AND Jake Remaly • April 12, 2008
JEFFERSON -- A heavy projectile apparently from Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township crashed through the roof of a house on Longwood Lake Road and landed on an empty bed Friday afternoon, authorities confirmed.
A 14-year-old cat in the house was seriously injured by the object and had to be euthanized Friday night. However, no people were hurt in the bizarre, frightening incident that Jefferson Mayor Russ Felter described as unprecedented.
Cheryl Angle, whose house was damaged and was inside at the time, said the hot, heavy, metal object weighed approximately 10 lbs., was about the size of her hand and caused the bed to smolder. It smashed into her daughter Cassandra's bed and wounded the family's cat, Sarah.
Angle said her daughter was not home because a friend's mother had picked her up a half-hour earlier than expected.
"They (investigators) said it was the piece of a mortar shell," Angle said. "They all told me I should play the lottery tonight because it's a very, very freak thing."
At 8 p.m., a statement from Picatinny officials said that township police contacted the base about 2:40 p.m. to ask about possibly related activities. Picatinny dispatched an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team to the house.
"The formal investigation is ongoing and the Army has appointed a General Officer to conduct the final investigation," the Picatinny statement said. A spokeswoman wasn't certain whether Picatinny Commanding General Brig. Gen. William N. Phillips or another officer would lead the investigation. Also, General Phillips went to the Jefferson house to discuss the issue with the residents, the base announcement said.
Some Army personnel on the scene Friday evening were met by distressed neighbors, who complained of recent house-shaking operations on the base.
Police initially contacted the FAA before a determination was made that the projectile likely came from Picatinny, rather than an aircraft, Jefferson Police Detective Joe Kratzel said.
"At first, they thought it was an airplane," Felter said.
The house, in the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson, is about 3,000 feet from one boundary of the U.S. Army base.
Mayor alerted
Felter said he received a phone call from Picatinny Garrison Commander Lt. Col. John Stack three hours after the incident.
"They're launching a full investigation to make sure -- did it come from the base; if it did, how and why that happened, and how to stop it from happening again," Felter said.
Kratzel, who responded to the scene, said the projectile was 4 to 5-1/2 inches long to 3 inches wide, and 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick.
"It was very heavy," he said.
Picatinny could not be reached Friday evening.
Angle, recounting the incident in a phone interview, said she heard a blast. A few seconds later, she heard a percussion, like someone shutting the door, then the terrifying sound of it coming through the bedroom ceiling.
"There was a metal smell in my house like you wouldn't believe. It was like I was in a metal shop," she said.
The base handles research and development of Army weapons and it is not unusual to hear reports of windows of nearby homes rattling due to blasting, Felter said.
"These things happen. We just don't want it to happen again," Felter said. <<
Idiots. Poor cat.
LINK HERE
By ROB JENNINGS • AND Jake Remaly • April 12, 2008
JEFFERSON -- A heavy projectile apparently from Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township crashed through the roof of a house on Longwood Lake Road and landed on an empty bed Friday afternoon, authorities confirmed.
A 14-year-old cat in the house was seriously injured by the object and had to be euthanized Friday night. However, no people were hurt in the bizarre, frightening incident that Jefferson Mayor Russ Felter described as unprecedented.
Cheryl Angle, whose house was damaged and was inside at the time, said the hot, heavy, metal object weighed approximately 10 lbs., was about the size of her hand and caused the bed to smolder. It smashed into her daughter Cassandra's bed and wounded the family's cat, Sarah.
Angle said her daughter was not home because a friend's mother had picked her up a half-hour earlier than expected.
"They (investigators) said it was the piece of a mortar shell," Angle said. "They all told me I should play the lottery tonight because it's a very, very freak thing."
At 8 p.m., a statement from Picatinny officials said that township police contacted the base about 2:40 p.m. to ask about possibly related activities. Picatinny dispatched an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team to the house.
"The formal investigation is ongoing and the Army has appointed a General Officer to conduct the final investigation," the Picatinny statement said. A spokeswoman wasn't certain whether Picatinny Commanding General Brig. Gen. William N. Phillips or another officer would lead the investigation. Also, General Phillips went to the Jefferson house to discuss the issue with the residents, the base announcement said.
Some Army personnel on the scene Friday evening were met by distressed neighbors, who complained of recent house-shaking operations on the base.
Police initially contacted the FAA before a determination was made that the projectile likely came from Picatinny, rather than an aircraft, Jefferson Police Detective Joe Kratzel said.
"At first, they thought it was an airplane," Felter said.
The house, in the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson, is about 3,000 feet from one boundary of the U.S. Army base.
Mayor alerted
Felter said he received a phone call from Picatinny Garrison Commander Lt. Col. John Stack three hours after the incident.
"They're launching a full investigation to make sure -- did it come from the base; if it did, how and why that happened, and how to stop it from happening again," Felter said.
Kratzel, who responded to the scene, said the projectile was 4 to 5-1/2 inches long to 3 inches wide, and 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick.
"It was very heavy," he said.
Picatinny could not be reached Friday evening.
Angle, recounting the incident in a phone interview, said she heard a blast. A few seconds later, she heard a percussion, like someone shutting the door, then the terrifying sound of it coming through the bedroom ceiling.
"There was a metal smell in my house like you wouldn't believe. It was like I was in a metal shop," she said.
The base handles research and development of Army weapons and it is not unusual to hear reports of windows of nearby homes rattling due to blasting, Felter said.
"These things happen. We just don't want it to happen again," Felter said. <<
Idiots. Poor cat.
LINK HERE
~Jenn~"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats."[/color]