Man arrested in toll booth slingshot attacks

[March 27, 2009]  TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington State Patrol said a 50-year-old Gig Harbor man accused of using a slingshot to hit Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll booth windows has been arrested.

Trooper Brandy Kessler said Wednesday that the man was arrested and booked into the Pierce County Jail for investigation of second-degree assault, second-degree malicious mischief and reckless endangerment.

In a March 12 incident, a toll booth attendant was covered with shattered glass and had to close the booth. She was not injured. In a second incident two days later, an unoccupied booth was hit. The patrol said the slingshot was loaded with a metal ball bearing.

Detectives checked surveillance footage and identified the same blue truck driving though the toll plaza each time, with the same license plate and "Good to Go Pass" bridge-crossing account number. Kessler says the man was apparently upset about his treatment after his "Good to Go" account expired.

[Associated Press]

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