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Brother picks nose, fight
Bloomington Pantograph ^ | Thursday, May 2, 2002 | Kevin Simpson

Posted on 05/13/2002 4:57:20 AM PDT by pt17

BLOOMINGTON -- You can pick your friends. You can even pick your nose. But you can't wipe a booger on a friend.

So say local authorities following the arrest of a Normal man who fought with his younger brother over a nose-picking spat earlier this week.

Some may think it's funny, but it's not, say prosecutors.

Just ask Spiro G. Pettas, 22, of Watterson Towers, who faces two counts of domestic battery and two counts of battery.

One battery and one domestic battery charge allege Pettas wiped crusty mucus on his brother during an argument. That triggered a full-scale fight -- hence the additional charges.

"Any insulting or provoking touching like that is a battery, whether it is spitting or whether someone wipes mucus on you," said John Prior, McLean County assistant state's attorney in charge of domestic violence cases. "You just can't do something like that."

The fight happened Monday at the younger brother's apartment in the 200 block of North Fell Avenue. Normal police found a broken table and several broken glasses on the floor. The brother had red marks on his chest; Pettas had no marks, according to police reports.

Both declined medical treatment.

Pettas, who couldn't be reached for comment, told police his brother was picking his nose, which Pettas found disgusting, according to reports. He told his brother to stop. The brother told Pettas to shut up and he'd do what he wanted.

Pettas then harvested something from his own nose and wiped it on his brother, a witness told police. The brother stood up, Pettas pushed him, and the fight was on.

Normal Police Chief Walt Clark declined specific comment, saying he wasn't familiar with the case.

"Why would I second-guess the state's attorney office," he said with a chuckle.

Spitting prompts criminal charges several times each year. If the target is a police officer or firefighter, the charge is elevated to a felony.

Pettas' action fit the required criminal definition for battery because it sparked a fight, said Prior. Pettas was released on a personal recognizance bond and is scheduled in court June 10. His brother was not charged.


TOPICS: Humor; Local News
KEYWORDS: assault; nosepicking
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My sister pointed this one out to me. Like guns, boogers may be considered assault weapons in Bloomington, IL. Be careful traveling through that area if you don't have a proper booger locker and, for heavens sake, don't attack someone with your booger, especially a relative.
1 posted on 05/13/2002 4:57:20 AM PDT by pt17
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To: pt17;Maxwell;Argh;RedBloodedAmerican;TennesseeBob
I'm not really sure why, but when I read this I immediately thought of a group of boys I used to run around with in elementary school.......and the equivilent here on FR was this group......lol
2 posted on 05/13/2002 5:54:57 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA

3 posted on 05/13/2002 6:05:13 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; pt17;Maxwell;Argh;RedBloodedAmerican;
This image caught earlier in the two way mirror cam we've secretly installed in WhyisaTexasgirlinPA's house...


4 posted on 05/13/2002 6:07:08 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
This could be especially troubling to some since there's no Constitutional provision protecting the right to own and bear boogers.
5 posted on 05/13/2002 6:08:10 AM PDT by pt17
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To: pt17
Reminder to Sis (I know you'll read this):

Email the Bloomington Police the link to Advanced Nose Picking Techniques so they'll be better prepared to profile these attackers. Is that asking too much of you? No, that's not.
6 posted on 05/13/2002 6:22:57 AM PDT by pt17
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To: Tennessee_Bob; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
BWAAAAAHAHA... Ain't nothin' sexier than a woman with her finger up her shnoz...
7 posted on 05/13/2002 7:12:56 AM PDT by maxwell
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To: Tennessee_Bob
I have a strict rule against unflattering pictures.........and you just broke it! lol
8 posted on 05/13/2002 7:23:14 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: maxwell
Nothing???????????
9 posted on 05/13/2002 7:23:35 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
I'm curious though...who was it that was picking your nose?
10 posted on 05/13/2002 7:25:28 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
Well, I could think of a few things, but I don't think that this is the appropriate forum for it.

Women in bowling shoes...that's pretty good.

11 posted on 05/13/2002 7:26:33 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: Tennessee_Bob
I will never divulge the name of the nose picker......it wouldn't be lady like of me........
12 posted on 05/13/2002 7:30:38 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: pt17; Tennessee_Bob; Sir Gawain; Nunya Bidness
What about breaking wind on your brother? Is that battery? I could have my big brother sent to jail for life.
13 posted on 05/13/2002 7:55:12 AM PDT by Texaggie79
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
Thank you for the lovely insult, what a wonderful start to the week!
14 posted on 05/13/2002 8:18:38 AM PDT by Argh
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To: Argh
Insult? What? I mentioned some of my dearest friends from my childhood and YOU decide this is an insult? I'm hurt....... lol I might have to wipe a booger on you!
15 posted on 05/13/2002 8:21:22 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: Tennessee_Bob; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; maxwell
Oh, nicely done, Bob! Wasn't her ping about the snottiest you ever saw? By the way, if you found a picture of a nosepicker broader in the beam than the one you posted it wouldn't have hurt MY feelings any. :^)
16 posted on 05/13/2002 8:23:21 AM PDT by Argh
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To: Argh; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
I do believe she's picking on you.

However, she's threatened to wipe a booger on you - that's battery - I'd call the cops, if I were you!!!

17 posted on 05/13/2002 8:26:30 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: Argh;TennesseeBob
Now Argh....BROADER in the beam? Now that's just cruel.....lol

And TB....I'll wipe a booger on you too! lol.......

18 posted on 05/13/2002 9:26:55 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; Argh
Argh - you want a BROADER Broad in the picture...I'll see what I can do.

WIATGIPA - Boogers don't scare me - I've picked up body parts before...mucus is nothing anymore. Besides, you've got to find me first.....

19 posted on 05/13/2002 9:29:45 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob
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To: Tennessee_Bob; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
Besides, you've got to find me first.....

Pssst, Tex, I'll bet his name's a dodge, look everywhere EXCEPT Tennessee first....

20 posted on 05/13/2002 11:42:16 AM PDT by Argh
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