Hammer Time!

December 1, 2009 at 9:53 am by Jaded  

Winona, MN - Last Saturday evening, at around 5:00, police received a call from a shopper at a Target store who said there was a man inside the store using a hammer to smash cameras and big-screen televisions while saying “hammer, hammer, hammer” in a monotone voice. (Heh. That makes me giggle). Another witness reported that the man had a bloodied face and “a glazed look in his eyes and was walking like Frankenstein.” According to police, customers were streaming out the front doors when they arrived on scene. Officers confronted the Frankenstein-ish man, 39-year-old Jerome Eberle, inside the store, and when they got within about 15 feet of him, he took a swing at an officer with the hammer. He then proceeded to lead the officers on a foot chase through the store, at one point, shoving a shopping cart at an officer. The chase was over after Eberle was pepper sprayed a couple of times and tased twice. Eberle, who hails from Chicago, was later transported to Winona Health for a behavioral evaluation. In an interview with police, he claimed he could only remember portions of the incident. Amnesia notwithstanding, Eberle is charged with two counts of assault for attacking officers, obstruction of justice with force, first-degree property damage and disorderly conduct. Two officers were injured during the melee – one hurt his knee and another cut his hand. Both are going to be just fine. Personally, I am anxiously awaiting the release of the surveillance video. Shit like this never happens at my Target, dammit.

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