Ax-wielding man gets free videos at Blockbuster

Elko Daily Free Press ^ | 2/17/2005 | Marianne Kobak

[JennysCool]

ELKO, Nevada - An Elko man was arrested today after using a double-headed ax to check out videos Friday at Blockbuster Video.

Thomas Watts, 61, was arrested by an Elko police officer on charges of coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. His bail was set at $10,000.

Watts tried to receive two free videos using two different promotional offers Friday and became upset when the clerk told him he could only receive one, according to the police report.

The clerk told police Watts said "'We can fix this problem. I can go grab my ax out of the truck."'

He left the store and came back in with an ax.

"He started swinging it around and then set it down on the counter," said Elko police Capt. Mike Smith.

The manager treated the situation like a robbery and gave Watts the two videos.

Police officers watched the surveillance tape and saw Watts bring the ax in and swing it twice overhead toward a computer monitor while a Blockbuster employee was at the computer.

When police talked to Watts he admitted to taking the ax into the store.

"It's a handy item to have around. You never know when you might need one," Watts said, according to the police report.

[JennysCool]

Just a quaint little slice of life from my hometown.

[RosieCotton]

This guy related to either of ya? ;-)

[Shellback Chuck]

Well he did fix the initial problem, he just ended up with a bigger one.

[ScottFromSpokane]

How do some people's minds work?

[writer33]

Hey. Why don't you just cut to the chase?

[silent_jonny]

NO MORE LATE FEES!

[JennysCool]

How do some people's minds work?

Funny you should ax.

[JennysCool]

Good thing he didn't bust anybody's block.

[MARTIAL MONK]

"It's a handy item to have around. You never know when you might need one,"

Yup. I only use mine when they get my order wrong at Taco Bell. It's worn clean down to the nubbin.

[4mycountry]

"It's a handy item to have around. You never know when you might need one," Watts said, according to the police report.

Apparently. (lol)

[gopwinsin04]

Was it this movie he was renting by chance...

[Loud Mime]

All he did was axe for some videos....sheesh..

[llevrok]

I love people who go through life with passion.

[VRWCisme]

And at least the clerk finally got his point.

[lowbridge]

Break open in case of insolent Blockbuster employees.

[mlbford2]

now that's funny

[theFIRMbss]

>Watts tried to receive two free videos using two different promotional offers Friday and became upset when the clerk told him he could only receive one

This happened to me!
I made a scene, too, but I
didn't use an ax . . .

(In my case, I found
some stores let you get two, and
some stores only one.)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Was this an assault axe?

[lowbridge]

Now lets talk about that joke you call a store policy, fella.

[lowbridge]

This happened to me! I made a scene, too, but I didn't use an ax . . .

So what caliber did you use?