Woman uses railroad spike in self-defense(MO)

kfvs12.com ^ | 26 July, 2010 | Tyler Profilet

[marktwain]

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KFVS) - Poplar Bluff Police arrested Steven Dover Monday afternoon on charges of first degree robbery and burglary, but the story is how the homeowner was able to get him out of the house.

The homeowner didn't have a baseball bat, a gun, or a kitchen knife handy to defend herself when police say Dover tried to break in, so she grabbed the first thing she saw; it just happened to be an old railroad spike!

She says she hit Dover once in the head, and it was enough to keep her and her roommate safe.

"There was blood on the floor. A large amount. Probably covered three to four square feet," said Detective Bryce Colin.

I spoke with the alleged victim, Stephanie Molina, and while she didn't want to go on camera, she did tell me she picked up the spike while walking along the railroad tracks on the 4th of July.

She said she just thought it was neat, and never imagined she would have to use it.

Colin says he's never seen anyone use one in self defense.

"Typically a baseball bat, golf club, a kitchen knife. Nothing like a rusted railroad tie," he said.

Molina says she wishes she didn't have to use the railroad spike, but says she's glad it was there when she needed it.

[marktwain]

The will is more important than the implement.

[Dr. Sivana]

I hope the poor assailant was up to date on his tetanus shots.

[domenad]

Boy is that guy on the wrong track. Oooh ahh! Is this thing on?

[bvw]

A railroad spike is a great self-defense tool. Or was. Now there aren’t so many, so disposal after is more of a problem.

[RightOnline]

Yes, but the real question is....was she properly train-ed in its use as a weapon?

[RightOnline]

I also understand the perp claims innocence here; swears he is being......railroaded.

[ErnBatavia]

"There was blood on the floor. A large amount. Probably covered three to four square feet," said Detective Bryce Colin.

That's a pretty good whack; I imagine a spike might make a nice weighted punch work pretty well.

[reagan_fanatic]

I have an old railroad spike that I found a long time ago and keep in my basement. I can see how she could draw blood with one on those - they are very solid and quite heavy.

Good for her.

[Cowman]

Sounds like she really nailled him

[DuncanWaring]

Good thing she didn't have a gun - the intruder might have taken it from her and used it against her.

Yes, it's sarcasm

[LRS]

Never bring a burglary to a spike fight...

[stuartcr]

When they take away our railroad spikes...only criminals will have railroad spikes.

[RightOnline]

True. I think we all should track this case.

[Condor51]

The homeowner didn't have a baseball bat, a gun, or a kitchen knife handy to defend herself when police say Dover tried to break in, so she grabbed the first thing she saw; it just happened to be an old railroad spike!

Way To Go Lady!

For those who didn't grow up in the olden days, 'playing on the Railroad Tracks', you have no idea of what a RR Spike can do. Or how heavy those suckers are.₍₁₎

In fact we outlawed them when playing War. We decided they were worse than, 'rock grenades' and pretend dumdum bullets ;-)

(1) In a pinch you could use them as a 'Window Sash Weight'
[now I'm REALLY showin' my age :-)]

[pingman]

“Authorities declined to say whether the victim had a permit to possess such a deadly weapon.” /s

[Made In The USA]

There really should be a waiting period on railroad spikes....

The problem is the easy availability of railroad spikes at railroad spike conventions down South...

Neighborhoods are being torn apart by easy access to railroad spikes...

I have a railroad spike in my toolbox. I suppose I really should keep it in a locker next to my bed.

[109ACS]

Since my employer forces me to disarm while walking from my car to work, I decided to carry a railroad spike. I sharpened the end so good I could shave with it. The blunt end also makes a good weapon. I’d rather have my Springfield Subcompact 40 with me, but it’s better than nothing.

I openly carry this thing to and from work and have never been questioned by the Gestapo. After all, it’s just a railroad spike!

[Charles Martel]

The problem is the easy availability of railroad spikes at railroad spike conventions down South...

Close the spike show loophole!

[IMR 4350]

If she hit him more than once, does that make it a full auto railroad spike?

[70times7]

Semi-auto.

Just remember:
Railroad spikes don't hit people; people hit people.
When railroad spikes are outlawed only outlaws will have railroad spikes.
You can have my railroad spike when you pry it from Casey Jones' cold dead fingers.
I believe in railroad spike control; one should use a firm grip when striking a criminal.

[dools007]

Locked locker, locked locker. You simply don’t understand the concept of buying a fire arm—or any weapon—for personal and home protection and then locking it up so you can’t get at it.

What are you thinking?!

[OB1kNOb]

Sounds like she was trained well..........

[BfloGuy]

Woman uses railroad spike in self-defense(MO)

Saw the headline and thought it was a Willie Green post.

[Vendome]

Got railroaded and tied down.

But that’s what’s at “Stake” when you mess with a gal who wants to live.

[Erasmus]

Well, courtesy demands a ping to him.

BTW, I have an inch and a half of Union Pacific (formerly MoPac) mainline that would do the job even better.

[Erasmus]

Since my employer forces me to disarm while walking from my car to work, I decided to carry a railroad spike. I sharpened the end so good I could shave with it.

You have to shave at work?!

[smokingfrog]

The will is more important than the implement.

Here's some video.

LINK

[wxgesr]

I knew a guy (sorta) who used a railroad spike in an attempt to break his friend out of a Bellaire, TX jail. He was whacked out of his gourd from huffing Toulol(sp) for months straight. Never saw him again.

[Rebelbase]

“The whack on the head is for trying to mess with me and the dose of Tetanus is for pissing me off!”

[sportutegrl]

It would be just like the media to ‘spike’ this story.

[Made In The USA]

Oh, you don’t know how bad it is. I am totally irresponsible.

Not only am I packing a railroad spike, I’ve got a handful of landscape timbers sitting in an unlocked drawer in my garage. I bought ‘em from a guy who didn’t need a background check... yeah, they fell of the back of a truck or something.

That’s right 16” of galvanized steel and I ‘aint afraid to use ‘em. One hot day last week while using them, I even downed a beer. OK, it was more than one beer, but it was hot out.

[Levante]

“In fact we outlawed them when playing War. We decided they were worse than, ‘rock grenades’ and pretend dumdum bullets ;-)”

You mean, even worse than lawn darts?

Oh, the horror, the horror!!!!! ;)

[Levante]

“Authorities declined to say whether the victim had a permit to possess such a deadly weapon.” /s

Was it an “assault railroad spike?”

Capable of “thousands of thrusts a minute?” ;)

[pingman]

Must have been painted black! Oooooh, scary!

[dools007]

Humph, I thought so.

The crazy part of all this, is that even 30 years ago this craziness would have portrayed as a spoof by Bob Newhart. But the spoof has become reality.

[Condor51]

*** You mean, even worse than lawn darts? Oh, the horror, the horror!!!!! ;) ***

I don't know about Lawn Darts. I was long past playing 'pretend war' when those came out.

But as to a RR Spike -- if one came flying from above and hit a young kids skull. The 'play time' would be over, like forever. They will go through a kids skull without a problem.

Like 'they' say -- It's all fun and games until someone gets killed.

[DM1]

Dude looks like Aragorn!

[freedomlover]

Did it have a bayonet mount?

[N. Theknow]

Saturday Night Special = Light rail spike

Fully Automatic = High Speed Rail spike

[Levante]

If I’m not mistaken, lawn darts maimed/killed a few as well.