When using a toy gun to threaten electric workers make sure you hide your weed pipes

When using a toy gun to threaten electric workers make sure you hide your weed pipes

READING â?? A man who said he was frustrated after going all week without power due to Sunday's wind storm was arrested Thursday and charged with threatening a Duke Energy worker.

Mark Sumner, 54, said he was charged with inducing panic and possessing drug paraphernalia at Lakeshore Apartments off Galbraith Road.

He is accused of threatening the worker with a non-lethal "Air Soft" gun that resembles an AK-47 assault rifle. The device shoots plastic BBs about 50 feet or so, he said.

Reading police, who haven't responded to an interview request today, confiscated the device.

In an interview this morning, Sumner said he regrets the incident and insists he never intended to scare or harm anyone.

He said he was just joking around, trying to ease frustrations among residents at the complex who have gone without electricity - or even a cup of fresh, hot coffee - since Sunday.

"Maybe my sense of humor is really warped or something. but that is solely what I was trying to do," he said.

Sumner's daughter, Brenda Sumner, 34, of Madisonville, said she is her father's legal guardian.

She says Sumner suffered two brain aneurisms in the 1980s. He collects Social Security disability benefits and undergoes medical treatment at an area veterans hospital, his daughter says.

"He is not right," she said. "It is not that he's just some crazed gunman. That's why he had an Air-Soft gun. He is like a 13-year-old."

Sumner doesn't drive, so his only lifeline to the world is Internet access, which was cut off by the storm. He had no way to check on his parents, who are ill, she said.

"Basically his life was cut off for four days," Brnda Sumner said.

Kathy Meinke, a Duke Energy spokeswoman, called the incident unfortunate but said most customers have been understanding that the company is working as quickly as possible to restore power this week.

Sunday's wind storm with hurricane-force winds topping more than 75 miles an hour in some areas knocked out power overall to more than 1 million customers. As of this morning, about 130,000 remain without power.

â??The majority of our customers have been very understanding and are appreciative,â? she said.

Sumner said he was standing outside his building Thursday with other residents when a Duke Energy truck pulled up to presumably try to restore power to the area. But, he said, the workers stayed in the truck, watching repair work underway at an apartment building heavily damaged in Sunday's storm.

"They just sat there for over 15 minutes, neglecting their job of restoring power, I felt," he said.

So he grabbed his toy gun and walked into the parking lot, standing about 150 to 200 feet away from the truck.

He insists he didn't say anything threatening to the workers, although he said he's accused of saying something like: "'They ain't leaving til I get my energy.'

"I honestly don't remember making it," he said. "The whole intention was just to release a little pressure on the residents. I just stood nearby with it and they felt it was a threat."

But then a complex maintenance worker approached and told him the Duke Energy workers were scared, he said.

Sumner said he went into his apartment and put the gun up. But a short time later, Reading police arrived and arrested him.

He said they also found a couple marijuana pipes in his apartment and charged him with possession of drug paraphernalia.

By Thursday night, Duke Energy had restored power to most of the complex - all but one building, he said.

"Low and behold, Duke Energy people had their truck down there, three or four of them, scurrying around the pole," he said. "I guess it was a coincidence. Minutes later, the power was restored. I am not one to down talk Duke Energy people. I wouldn't want their job because this is a mess up here."

Earlier this week, Clermont County Sheriff A. J. â??Timâ? Rodenberg said his office received a report from Duke Energy officials that some citizens have been going to their offices and/or facilities and demanding immediate action to restore power.

He said deputies were providing more coverage to Duke facilities and employees this week as they attempt to restore power to the region. He also said they will arrest anyone who tries to disrupt or threaten them.

Arrested man: Duke threats 'joke' | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

Jesus Christ....

Crazy.