July 7, 2010
Skunk-hunting teen accused of inducing panic
PORT CLINTON — An 18-year-old man faces charges after police received reports of a man walking around with a shotgun.
Ronnie J. Barnett, of 818 Delaware Lane, is charged with underage drinking and inducing panic, Port Clinton police reported.
At 2:47 a.m. Monday, police officers and Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies were alerted. They began looking for a man in blue jeans and a white T-shirt walking in the area of Erie Court and Kentucky Street.
One officer ordered an Ohio Street family into their home after they got out of their vehicle.
He reported finding Barnett in some bushes on the north side of the 800 block of Maryland Street. The officer said he drew his weapon and ordered Barnett to come out and show his hands.
Barnett complied, and other officers helped take him into custody.
Police reported finding a Daisy Powerline 880 BB rifle leaning against a nearby bush, and said Barnett had a 17-inch survival knife in a holster on his hip. Another pocket knife also was taken as evidence, the report said.
Barnett reportedly told an officer he was home from the Marine Corps and had consumed a couple of beers, then decided to go skunk hunting.
He was taken to the Ottawa County Detention Facility. The website for the Ottawa County Municipal Court did not show a court date as of Tuesday night.