Roachdale man arrested in Bloomfield

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

BLOOMFIELD -- A Putnam County man was apprehended by Bloom-field police Monday morning after he damaged property and threatened several individuals with bodily harm at the South Plaza Shopping Center in a bizarre chain of events. The man has been admitted to Bloomington Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

The incident started when Franklin L. Haas, 43, Roachdale, left his Ford Mustang locked with the keys inside parked diagonally in front of Allen's Ace Hardware at about 5:30 a.m.

Haas then is reported to have climbed up on the clock tower at the shopping center and broke out the flood lights. He then damaged a bench in front of Ace Hardware, according to Bloomfield Deputy Marshal Bob Richardson.

Richardson said Haas is reported to have threatened an unidentified man who was leaving the Bloomfield IGA store because the man refused to give Haas money when he was asked.

Haas then walked to the Picnic Basket convenience store where the havoc continued.

He drank half of a chocolate-flavored soft drink and then tried to pay for it with a credit card that was rejected.

Haas then got upset and walked out of the store and refused to pay for the drink. As he was leaving he shouted to the clerk a threat.

"He opened the side glass at the store and told her (the clerk) he would kill her if she told anybody what happened," Richardson said.

The man then went throughout the south end of town smashing several pumpkins and jumping on vehicles.

At a residence on West Mill Street, he allegedly smashed about $40 worth of pumpkins and then threatened the homeowner when he was confronted.

Haas was apprehended at about 8 a.m. in the 400 block of West Main Street by Bloomfield officers.

"Most of the damage he did was minimal, but it was enough to scare people," Richardson said.

Late Monday afternoon, Haas was voluntarily admitted to Bloomington Hospital for evaluation, according to Richardson.

A variety of criminal charges are pending against him.

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