Monday, March 30, 2009

Mailbox Bomb Tops Vandalism Spree

   Law enforcement officials have been asked to investigate a number of mailbox vandalism events during past days, including one that reportedly involved a bomb.

    Deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department report they were dispatched to investigate the bombing incident Friday at the 94 Old Jackson Highway home of Robert Jeffrey Ringelstein. Ringelstein told deputies he had heard the incident around midnight Friday night.

   Ringelstein reported he heard what sounded like a shotgun blast behind his residence. He indicated that he got his handgun and fired several rounds into the woods behind his home. The following morning, however, he was able to pinpoint the source of the explosion.

   Ringelstein found his mailbox lying in several pieces. It had been destroyed by what appeared to be some sort of explosive device. One deputy reported the remnants smelled of a possible gunpowder odor. He also reported he was also able to recover a piece of silver metal with black tape around one end that “appeared to have been exploded.” The fragments were said to have green paint transfer from the mailbox.

   The pieces of the mailbox bomb were bagged and seized into evidence for further investigation. Investigation into the matter is continuing.

   A number of residents discovered Sunday morning that their mailboxes had been targeted by vandals. Deputies were dispatched to homes on Revilo and Blooming Grove Roads where a number of mailboxes were found to have been “beaten off the stands” and completely destroyed.

   Anyone who has information regarding the crimes is urged to contact the department at 762-3626.

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