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Man faces assault charge after intruder is wounded
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Man faces assault charge after intruder is wounded ... More charges might result from Glenns Ferry shooting
By Mark Heinz
Times-News writer
GLENNS FERRY -- A Glenns Ferry man who police say shot and wounded an intruder was charged with aggravated assault, but the case might take more turns before everything is settled, authorities said Tuesday.
Benjamin C. Caler, 50, shot Joshua L. Stritesky, 20, with a large-caliber revolver during a confrontation near a motor home Caler was keeping on property he owns away from his house, said Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher.
Caler caught Stritesky and three juveniles -- ages 12 to 14 -- entering the motor home, Layher said.
According to statements Caler made to investigators, he was trying to fire a "warning shot," but the bullet struck Stritesky in his arm and severed a major artery, Layher said.
Stritesky was taken by air ambulance after the shooting late Sunday to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Layher said. A hospital spokeswoman said Stritesky had been discharged late Monday.
The case was still being actively investigated Tuesday, Layher said.
It's likely a charge or charges will also be filed against Stritesky, said Elmore County Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli. The case against Caler could also change, depending on investigators' reports, he said.
Caler was arraigned on the assault charge Monday but entered no plea, Bazzoli said. He is scheduled to appear with his private attorney before a judge Thursday, and a date for a preliminary hearing will probably be set then, Bazzoli said. Caler was held Tuesday in the Elmore County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, Layher and Bazzoli said.
The trouble started with chronic break-ins at the motor home, Layher said.
He said some of his deputies last week told Caler that there were reports of children and youths breaking into the motor home, and they recommended that Caler make it more secure.
Reports indicate the motor home's door had already been pried open, and the lock was broken, Layher said.
"They weren't squatting in the motor home, they were apparently just looking for a place to hang out -- going in there and doing whatever kids do," Layher said.
Caler apparently decided to go to the motor home late Sunday and wait inside with his revolver, Layher said.
At about 9 p.m., Stritesky and the juveniles came in, and Caler confronted them but didn't display the gun, he said.
The confrontation moved outside, and Stritesky apparently became aggressive, Layher said.
"The way we understand it right now, Josh was wanting to fight him," he said.
Caler apparently then drew his gun and fired, Layher said.
The case has sparked some local controversy, he said.
"It's sort of a rough case, because people are saying 'Now we don't have a right to protect our property,'" Layher said. "We don't even have the case wrapped up, and people are already speculating about it."
Layher said he supports the right of people to own guns, and even use them for self-protection in some cases.
But it is usually best to just leave guns locked up, he said.
"It's really a touchy line, when you go out with a gun and try to enforce things," he said.
"We would much rather have people get a good description of suspects and a license plate or something like that. It takes less than a second to pull that trigger, and whatever they hit -- that's what everybody has to live with."
Times-News reporter Mark Heinz can be reached at 735-3238 or by e-mail at mheinz@magicvalley.com. http://www.magicvalley.com/tn/topstory/index.asp?StoryID=365
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Mark Heinz
Times-News writer
GLENNS FERRY -- A Glenns Ferry man who police say shot and wounded an intruder was charged with aggravated assault, but the case might take more turns before everything is settled, authorities said Tuesday.
Benjamin C. Caler, 50, shot Joshua L. Stritesky, 20, with a large-caliber revolver during a confrontation near a motor home Caler was keeping on property he owns away from his house, said Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher.
Caler caught Stritesky and three juveniles -- ages 12 to 14 -- entering the motor home, Layher said.
According to statements Caler made to investigators, he was trying to fire a "warning shot," but the bullet struck Stritesky in his arm and severed a major artery, Layher said.
Stritesky was taken by air ambulance after the shooting late Sunday to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Layher said. A hospital spokeswoman said Stritesky had been discharged late Monday.
The case was still being actively investigated Tuesday, Layher said.
It's likely a charge or charges will also be filed against Stritesky, said Elmore County Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli. The case against Caler could also change, depending on investigators' reports, he said.
Caler was arraigned on the assault charge Monday but entered no plea, Bazzoli said. He is scheduled to appear with his private attorney before a judge Thursday, and a date for a preliminary hearing will probably be set then, Bazzoli said. Caler was held Tuesday in the Elmore County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, Layher and Bazzoli said.
The trouble started with chronic break-ins at the motor home, Layher said.
He said some of his deputies last week told Caler that there were reports of children and youths breaking into the motor home, and they recommended that Caler make it more secure.
Reports indicate the motor home's door had already been pried open, and the lock was broken, Layher said.
"They weren't squatting in the motor home, they were apparently just looking for a place to hang out -- going in there and doing whatever kids do," Layher said.
Caler apparently decided to go to the motor home late Sunday and wait inside with his revolver, Layher said.
At about 9 p.m., Stritesky and the juveniles came in, and Caler confronted them but didn't display the gun, he said.
The confrontation moved outside, and Stritesky apparently became aggressive, Layher said.
"The way we understand it right now, Josh was wanting to fight him," he said.
Caler apparently then drew his gun and fired, Layher said.
The case has sparked some local controversy, he said.
"It's sort of a rough case, because people are saying 'Now we don't have a right to protect our property,'" Layher said. "We don't even have the case wrapped up, and people are already speculating about it."
Layher said he supports the right of people to own guns, and even use them for self-protection in some cases.
But it is usually best to just leave guns locked up, he said.
"It's really a touchy line, when you go out with a gun and try to enforce things," he said.
"We would much rather have people get a good description of suspects and a license plate or something like that. It takes less than a second to pull that trigger, and whatever they hit -- that's what everybody has to live with."
Times-News reporter Mark Heinz can be reached at 735-3238 or by e-mail at mheinz@magicvalley.com. http://www.magicvalley.com/tn/topstory/index.asp?StoryID=365
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
but TWO eye witnesses,both got the tag and decription of the automobile, and the decription of the burgulars.The police after
"investigating" said that,because they(the perps) were not in possession of my
stolen property when the police questioned them,they(the police) would not arrest them!!!And the district attorney
would not prosecute.!!!What does one have to do?It's against the law
to use deadly force to protect your property,But, the "authorities"
refuse to enforce the laws against "some" people in this society.
SHOOT FIRST,ASK QUESTIONS LATER?
What should I have done???????????