Sword seized after man mistakes porn for rape

[gldstwmn]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/22/por....ap/index.html

OCONOMOWOC, Wisconsin (AP) -- A man says he broke into an apartment with a cavalry sword because he thought he heard a woman being raped, but the sound actually was from a pornographic movie his upstairs neighbor was watching.

"Now I feel stupid," said James Van Iveren, who has been charged in the case. "This really is nothing, nothing but a mistake."

According to a criminal complaint, the neighbor told police that Van Iveren pounded on the door and kicked it open without warning February 12, damaging the frame and lock.

"Where is she?" Van Iveren demanded, thrusting the sword at the neighbor, the complaint said. "Where is she?"

The neighbor told police Van Iveren became increasingly aggressive as he repeated the question, insisting that he had heard a woman being raped. The complaint said that, with the sword pointed at him, the neighbor led Van Iveren throughout the apartment, opening closet doors to prove he was alone.

The neighbor later played for police the part of the DVD he believed Van Iveren heard downstairs.

Van Iveren, 39, of Oconomowoc, was charged with criminal trespass, criminal damage and disorderly conduct, all while using a dangerous weapon, and is scheduled to appear in court March 5. Together, the misdemeanor counts carry a maximum sentence of 33 months in jail.

Van Iveren said Tuesday that he heard a woman "screaming for help," grabbed the sword, bounded up the stairs, kicked in the apartment door and confronted the man who lived there.

"I intended to hold it behind my back and knock. But I froze and instead, what happened happened," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Contesting his neighbor's account, Van Iveren said he didn't look anywhere in the apartment except the front room, and that he never threatened the neighbor with the sword.

"I had the sword extended, but that was all," he said.

Van Iveren, who lives with his mother in the downstairs apartment, said he did not call police when he heard the noises because he does not have a telephone. He said he barely knew the upstairs tenant.

Police seized Van Iveren's sword, which he said was a family heirloom.

[BTFLCHLD]

that is funny, sad and admirable all at once.

[michaelD]

That was a funny story...
Who is more embarrassed... the guy breaking in, or they guy watching porn?

[danax6]

I feel bad he has to go to jail. He obviously tried to do the right thing.

This reminds me of another story that happened when I was younger. We all went to this camping site every summer, it was loads of fun. Two of my dad's friends had come up for a few days and they were one night taking a shower together. They heard moaning and groaning coming from the stall next to them, but they thought the guy was, you know, pleasuring himself. A few hours later an ambulance drove up to the site. Turned out the guy was actually having a heart attack and had died. They felt guilty about not doing anything for the longest time, but really, how could they know?

[HomerMcvie]

Sounds like the neighbor, likes him some kinky porn!

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Sounds like the neighbor, likes him some kinky porn!

I've actually thought about obtaining some kinky loud porn to freak my neighbors out

And yeah..this guy, if he goes back to live where he does...will have to live with a neighbor who basically now knows that this guy thinks of him as a rapist

[mikeschmike]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

And yeah..this guy, if he goes back to live where he does...will have to live with a neighbor who basically now knows that this guy thinks of him as a rapist

That's what I was thinking. Think of the awkward confrontations in the lobby...

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I've actually thought about obtaining some kinky loud porn to freak my neighbors out

I hate the ones where the women scream while getting poked.....what a pain, having to turn down the volume, so your neighbors don't hear.