http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788993/19305476.html

U.S. agent is charged in clash with teens By TOM SUK Register Staff Writer 09/25/2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A federal agent who allegedly terrorized a group of Indianola teenagers who had thrown toilet paper in his yard was charged Tuesday with drunken driving and multiple counts of assault.

Jon Carl Petersen, 41, is the head of the Iowa office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Police said last week that Petersen chased down a pickup truck full of Indianola High School sophomores who were tossing toilet paper as part of homecoming activities.

The teens said Petersen aimed a gun at them during the confrontation, which occurred a few blocks from the agent's home shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.

"I think he deserves what he gets," one of the alleged victims, Tyler McAninch, 15, said Tuesday. "After that night, I didn't stay out hardly at all. It was just in the back of my mind. It's still scary."

Warren County Attorney Kevin Parker charged Petersen with 10 counts of assault with a weapon, drunken driving and two counts of simple assault. Parker said the charges cover separate incidents that occurred within an hour.

Police say sobriety tests show Petersen's blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit during the incidents. They also confiscated a loaded five-shot revolver from the front seat of his government-owned Jeep, which is equipped with emergency lights and a siren that he allegedly used to stop the pickup truck. Petersen was arrested at the scene for alleged public intoxication.

Parker said the weapons charges, which are aggravated misdemeanors, and the drunken-driving charge, a serious misdemeanor, stem from the incident with the youths in the pickup truck. The two misdemeanor charges of simple assault stem from an earlier confrontation Petersen allegedly had at his home.

"There will be no plea bargain in this case," said Mark Pennington, Petersen's attorney. "His side has not been heard. He has entered pleas of not guilty and is looking forward to presenting his case and being exonerated at trial."

One of the misdemeanor assault charges involved a teen who "attempted to enter the home, and Mr. Petersen pushed him aside," Pennington said.

Petersen surrendered to authorities at the Warren County Courthouse about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. He was released without posting bail on his promise to appear in court. An arraignment is set for Oct. 8.

If convicted on all charges, Petersen could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined more than $50,000.

Federal officials suspended Petersen with pay shortly after his arrest. The federal agency will conduct its own investigation.

"We take these allegations very seriously," said Paul Vido, the assistant special agent in charge of the ATF's Kansas City division, which is responsible for operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2002

Answers

I think his biggest problem is that he picked on a kid that belongs to a family (McAninch) that owns one of the largest construction firms in IA. hehehehe I love it.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2002

Gawd, they wasted all that toilet paper! No wonder the guy went ballistic! Probably a doomer thinking of his lovely stash in the basement and just lost it. LOL!

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2002

oh-ho, he pissed off a powerful family, eh? LOL

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2002