We spent a considerable amount of time Friday afternoon chasing down the following story, shown here in part:
Authorities say a central Pennsylvania police officer shot his wife in the buttocks as he was showing his department-issued gun to family and friends during a weekend cookout at his home.
Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Wednesday that the gun issued to Harrisburg Officer William Owens discharged and struck the officer’s wife.
Marsico said he believes the shooting was an accident but charges could be filed if an investigation determines Owens acted recklessly.
Owens’ wife was treated at a hospital after the incident Saturday evening.
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The problem with this story, as it appeared Friday, June 1, 2012, is that there were apparently some locals here in southern Illinois who STILL have reading comprehension problems (despite all our haranguing about it.)
Long about Friday morning, we began receiving calls, emails and texts about a Harrisburg city officer who had shot his wife in the ass accidentally. The messages had it that the officer’s name was Williams. We weren’t familiar with any officer in tha ‘burg named Williams; however, those contacting us were insistent that this had gone on and was being covered up.
So we diligently went about contacting our usual sources on such a matter. And within about a half hour, every single one of them were getting back with us, telling us that of course, no such thing had happened, and further, even if such a thing HAD occurred, there’d be no coverup, at least on their part.
And then later that night, one of them sent us a link to the actual matter…the thing that apparently someone had mis-read, and that was what had sparked the “rumor” and had it going full-tilt by late Friday morning. Well, they didn’t mis-read it….they just didn’t read ALL of it. They somehow totally overlooked that “Pennsylvania” part.
So now you know….and you know that we DO INDEED check out what we report before we report it, not just go diving headlong into something like some of the tards out there proclaim that we do. We really do check things out, and get sources to say they’ll stand behind what we’re being told, despite the feelings some have on the matter. Let this be an example…and please, before you go reporting a story, check the dateline!!! 