Man Allegedly Pulls Gun On Girl Scout Selling Cookies

CBSLA.com) ^ | February 2, 2014 9:14 PM

[BenLurkin]

TEMECULA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities in Temecula say a man pulled a gun on a girl scout who was going door-to-door selling cookies Sunday.

The incident took place in the 31000 block of Strawberry Tree Lane.

Police responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call.

Officials said the victim, a minor, was selling cookies door-to-door when a resident opened his door and pointed a gun at the girl.

The scout’s father witnessed the alleged incident and called police.

The suspect has been identified as 59-year-old John Dodrill of Temecula.

Authorities said Dodrill was taken into custody without incident. They also said a weapon was seized as evidence in the case.

[SeaHawkFan]

The guilt the Girl Scouts put a guilt trip on people to by their lousy cookies at exorbitant prices is criminal.

[null and void]

Yes. You are in the area, can you provide any insight here?

[bicyclerepair]

You will pay more for less!

Ignore that empty space in the box.

[the_daug]

Was he cleaning his firearm and just answered the door?

[csvset]

Sure it wasn’t the Loch Ness monster ?

[aimhigh]

Thanks for my morning laugh!

[dalereed]

No, that’s about 30 miles from me in the next county, Riverside.

There hasn’t been anything on TV or in the newspaper about it here.

[null and void]

Thanks. I owe you a Twinkie...

[Albion Wilde]

While I am sure it was disconcerting to the minor and to her (at least I think it was a her. One can never tell for sure anymore) father, I cannot help but question the necessity of the physical arrest.

If the father had any sense, he would have handled the entire thing differently. Unless the homeowner was clearly off his nut, the father should have explained gun rights and property rights to the girl and amended his approach to knocking on strangers' doors. If the father had not become so outraged at the sight of the gun, he might have made a friend.

The homeowner could have had reason to be suspicious. These days, you do not know whom to trust. People impersonate utility workers, police, pregnant women and also use children as bait in order to commit crimes.

[Albion Wilde]

City data for Temecula.

[Oliviaforever]

With all the home invasion robberies going on these days you never know, when the next faint knock on the door may escalate into the door being kicked in and an entire family being held at gunpoint.

It is better to be safe, than sorry or perhaps even dead as I would not be surprised if there is a street gang out there that dresses up like Girl Scouts in order to gain homeowners confidence.

[marktwain]

We do not have enough information to know what happened.

I suspect a hoplophobic father and a prudent homeowner who answered the door with a gun in hand and never pointed it at the girl.

How many cases have we seen where people were accused of pointing guns at people (just to make the accusation more dramatic) when they never did so?

That is a rhetorical question. I have read and been told of dozens of cases where that occured.

[Glennb51]

You make excellent points.

I wonder if the firearm was actually pointed at the father and daughter or if the father wigged out when he saw the firearm and thought it was pointed at them.

[marktwain]

Here is John Dodrill’s blog. He seems like a serious guy. I have doubts that he pointed a gun at a girl scout.

http://johndodrill.info/2014/01/27/search-engine-submitting-and-watching-superbowl-2014.aspx

[marktwain]

John also appears to be a constitutionalist. Here is something from his web page:

http://johnswebpage.com/constitution.shtml

[thackney]

There are several John Dodrills. How did you determine this was him?

http://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/p?orig=SEO_SN&firstName=John&lastName=Dodrill&trk=SEO_SN

[thackney]

Never mind, I see the first link you posted, includes a link to the second, which includes his resume with home address.

You must be correct.

[Focault's Pendulum]

[Oliviaforever]

“We do not have enough information to know what happened.”

It may not be as important to know what happened as it is to understand what could happen when there is an unexpected knock on the door. Yes, it could be a Girl Scout dealing cookies or it could be someone with an even more sinister intent.

[marktwain]

Yes, and we have only heard one side of the story. I have seen too many hoplophobes to simply believe allegations of aggravated assault by people who are productive members of society.

Here is the Mayor of Grand Rapids telling people to call police on peaceful citizens exercising their rights:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/01/robert-farago/grand-rapids-mayor-george-heartwell-anxious-and-frightened-by-armed-citizen/