Snow Man Stabber Arrested
Colerain Township, OH
Tired of snowman abuse, Matt Williquette decided to go hi-tech.
Williquette, 26, has a 12-foot inflatable snowman in his Crest Road front yard that has been vandalized three times in the last two weeks.
Tired of having Frosty punctured, Williquette bought a digital video recorder and stuck it in a nearby tree.
He captured video of two men using a screwdriver to punch yet another hole in Frosty. Police used the video to capture one of them today.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Robert Snell, of the 2800 block Overdale Drive, Colerain Township, at 11:30 this morning.
Snell was charged with criminal damaging, a second-degree misdemeanor.
“I’m very relieved,†said Williquette, a packaging designer for Procter & Gamble. “People can finally sleep better around here.â€
Williquette placed the 12-foot Frosty in his yard as part of his Christmas decorations. He also has in his yard a 6-foot inflatable snow globe, about 30 large candy canes and 4-foot inflatable snowman.
He has no idea why the vandals limited themselves to the largest inflatable decoration.
“The question I have is, ‘Why me?’ And why Frosty?†Williquette asked.
“I had more (decorations) to put out there but with Frosty going down I wasn’t going to chance it.â€
Williquette placed white masking tape over the first two punctures to get Frosty inflated again.
Sick of seeing a deflated Frosty, Williquette used a video camera and bought new computer software to set a trap. The camera operated essentially the same as a motion detector, recording when something moved.
“Me sitting in front of the window every night wasn’t going to get it,†Williquette said.
After he heard a commotion last night and saw Frosty deflated, Williquette called police.
“The investigation continues to snowball; any future developments will be reported,†the sheriff’s office reported.
Snell’s name came to police from a tipster who’d seen the video.
The second man in the video hasn’t been identified.
With a bit of luck, Frosty will return to duty tonight.
“I just got to find some black duct tape to patch up his little charcoal area in his stomach and he’ll be back up and running.†Williquette said.
Found in the Cincinnati Enquirer
Thanks Luann!
December 18th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Unfortunately, all this jacka$$ will learn from this is to be more careful in the future, and keep a sharp eye out for video cameras. I fully expect him to retaliate against the homeowner in some especially nasty way when he gets out of jail in about a week.
December 19th, 2006 at 6:50 am
Frosty will not die alone. Like Mike said, people are vindictive
December 19th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Hmmm…same thing kept happening to my blow up ‘doll’. Wonder if it was the same guy. Frankly, I wouldn’t put it past that two timing, rubber skinned little minx!
December 19th, 2006 at 9:56 am
The perp was easily spotted in the line-up ’cause he was the one with the wind blown hair look goin’ on.
December 19th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Col. Mustard
In the Front Yard
With a Screw Driver
December 19th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
I can’t believe the day has come when an innocent snowman isn’t safe in the front yard. Next thing you know, they’ll be after pink flamingos
December 19th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
I hear ya Ann. It all started with the yard gnomes and now look where it’s gone to. What’ll they do next? Shoot the Pink flamingos, break those big mirror balls and write graffiti on the ‘old tire’ planters? Don’t EVEN get me started on the little lantern jockeys! It’d get downright obscene.
December 20th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Hey, all,
An update on MSNBC last night…they caught the perps!!! Arrested is an 18 yr old and they’re looking for the accomplice at the present!!! The system works-you just have to trust it!