GREELEY, Colo. --
A college student who tried to plop flaming dog poop on a neighbor's porch is in deep trouble.
University of Northern Colorado student Andrew Charles Donahue, 18, was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of attempted first-degree arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and possession of alcohol by a minor, Greeley police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych told the Denver Post Tuesday.
Donahue was allegedly caught with a bag of dog poop and matches as he headed for the front porch of Wayne Pickens, 57, a longtime Greeley resident and small businessman, the newspaper said.
Police said the stunt is no laughing matter.
"He was intoxicated," said Tymkowych about Donahue, the Post reported.
"Absolutely it's dangerous," Tymkowych said of the fire stunt. "It's a foolish prank and puts citizens at risk."
Early Sunday, Pickens said he called the cops on his neighbors - several UNC students who were partying too loud for Pickens liking, the Post reported.
Then at 4:30 a.m. Pickens' was rousted again by someone ringing his doorbell. He opened the door to find his Sunday Denver Post ablaze on the porch.
He snuffed newspaper fire.
Pickens thought the pranksters might return, but he "assumed they weren't going to be that stupid," the Post reported.
Taking no chances, the homeowner hid in his yard.
Soon he spotted a couple of young guys with a flashlight in the yard next door, picking up dog poop and putting it in a bag.
As the pair approached, Pickens and his wife were ready.
Just as the two young men were about to ignited the bag of dog doo, Pickens pounced, tackling the teen later identified as Donahue, the Post reported.
Meanwhile his wife, who had called the police, snapped photographs.
Police arrived to arrest Donahue.
"I just want to be able to sleep through the night," Pickens told the Post. "It may empower other people," he added.
Tymkowych said pictures were taken of the bag of poop and the kitchen matches were entered as evidence.
"This is unusual," the police spokesman told the Post. "If it was in retaliation for calling in a noise complaint, we don't have a lot of those. We have a good working relationship with UNC and they take a dim view" of these kinds of stunts.
Report a typo or inaccuracyCopyright 2010 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
