It was between 3 and 4 a.m. this morning. Peter Bauer, a 61-year-old resident of 7 Peppercorn Lane in Palm Coast–a house he’s owned since 2008–panicked. Croatians, he later told police, were attacking him at his house.
When the Croatians chased him, Bauer armed himself with a .380-caliber handgun and fired several shots. Cops would later find a bullet hole in the wall, several picture frames smashed around the house, and “a pile of white powder with a straw lying beside it” in the bathroom.
Bauer conceded to police that he’d snorted about eight to nine lines of cocaine the previous evening, at about 6 p.m. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can induce psychotic delusions. As it turns out, there were no Croatians, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said that Bauer “appeared to be mentally ill.” But the episode didn’t end in Bauer’s house.
In the earliest hours of Tuesday morning Bauer was a few doors down from his house, banging on the sliding glass door inside the enclosed porch of the property at 28 Peppercorn Lane, a house inhabited by two teens. “Help me, help me,” Bauer was yelling repeatedly, according to the residents. Bauer was shirtless, and in shorts. The teens ran and hid in a bedroom closet as Bauer kept banging on the door and trying to open it for several minutes. He then left, and hid between two cars at 40 Peppercorn Lane, according to his arrest report.
When Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, Bauer tried to elude them, but he was caught with little resistance at 32 Peppercorn. It was then that he told cops he was trying run from Croatians. When deputies went to his house, they saw Bauer’s door wide open, and noticed the smell of gunpowder inside, as well as the damage done by the shooting.
Bauer had a cut on his chin. He claimed the cut was the result of falling as he was being chased. He was treated at the scene by Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics, but he refused further treatment at a hospital, and was taken to the Flagler County jail, where he was booked on an armed burglary charge, and where he’s been held since on $1,500 bond.
palmcoaster says
One more case of guns for all, included of course, the substance addicted and the mentally ill. Give thanks to the NRA. Plain pathetic!
Ralph Belcher says
Apparently, bigotry is present in all states of being sober or intoxicated… Makes me think of an old George Carlin routine: “This is America; give us a color and we’ll wipe it out”.
pwmcn says
Cocaine is illegal, he had that, didn’t he? If firearms were illegal, what makes you think he wouldn’t obtain them? The NRA advocates safe gun ownership, not arming every citizen.
jack stewart says
Once again the anti gun nuts will use anything to further there cause..this story isnt about guns,,its about drug addiction
Clint says
What ? You haven’t been chased by the Croatians yet ? Just last night I saw 40 of them running down Palm Coast Parkway wearing nothing but Russian Beaver Hats !
firestar says
bath salts?
djeza says
why is nothing being done about the croatian problem? what is the sheriff being paid for?
Initialjoe says
At least he didn’t have his gun firing wildly as he was running away from those damned croations. I know I have had to shoot my way out of my house on multiple occasions because of an invading demographic. :)
bill lutzenburger says
“Cops would later find a bullet hole in the wall, several picture frames smashed around the house, and “a pile of white powder with a straw lying beside it” in the bathroom.” The police found COCAINE!! I don’t know about the rest of yall, but isn’t cocaine illegal in america? So sorry I guess its not illegal if you live in palm coast! After reading the arrest report I failed to notice the charge of cocaine possession!! He must have been arrested by the top cop with the extra 8 grand in his pocket, or is a friend of don fleming. Another black eye for the city!!!
Winny says
I was going to get on my “its not the gun” soapbox, But it looks like pwmcn, and Stewart has it covered. Keep up the good work guys, and watch out for the people against cheerleader batons. Cause about the time someone commits a crime with one of those, watch out! We will be outlawing them as well. No more half- time highlights, someone might get killed with a flaming baton.
THE VOICE OF REASON says
There’s a photographer named Peter Bauer on staff at the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Any idea if this is the same guy?
[Not the same guy..–FL]
NortonSmitty says
Like the bumper sticker says “Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Who’s bringing the chips?”
NortonSmitty says
I’m pretty sure that would have been pointed out in the story if it was.