US man threatens TV repairman with shotgun

How to get your sat service fixed, California-style

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 8th February 2008 11:15 GMT

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A disgruntled Californian satellite TV and internet customer was earlier this week cuffed on "suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and displaying a firearm in a threatening manner" after ordering a repairman to fix his service at gunpoint.

According to the The San Diego Union-Tribune, Gary Thomson was provoked by the late arrival of the Dish Network employee at his home in Vista. Detective Debra Haverkost explained that the company had phoned Thompson on 26 January when it "realized the repairman would be a little late".

Dish Network called again for directions when the repairman got lost in the neighbourhood, and when he eventually turned up he was met by Thomson wielding a shotgun. Haverkost explained that Thomson "threatened to kill the repairman if he didn't fix his television".

The unnamed repairman, who described himself as "terrified", duly "went inside and fixed the problem". He later reported the incident, at his boss's insistence, and cops quickly arranged an appointment for Thompson with Vista Jail. ®

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