Keep Austin weird...

Steven Anthony Garza

An Austin man is facing charges after police say he tossed a drone and a ham radio over the fence because he was tired of his neighbor “getting in his head.”

Steven Anthony Garza faces an assault charge in connection with the incident. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Austin Police, Garza stormed into Matthew Hammons’ yard while Hammons was using his amateur radio equipment to talk with his father. Hammons told police Garza charged him while making gestures indicating he was looking to fight. Hammons told officers Garza first broke his radio’s antenna and then headbutted him; Hammons went inside.

While inside his home, Hammons told police he watched as Garza threw his Yaesu 857-D radio and a personal DJI Phantom drone over the fence causing $4,000 in damage.

More of the story here: http://bit.ly/1vKTVcf

Man accused of threatening amateur radio club members

John David Watkins III

Via KSAT San Antonio, TX:

Northeast Bexar County resident John Watkins III is accused of making death threats to members of an amateur radio club.

Watkins was arrested on two counts of making a terroristic threat, and booked into jail Saturday.  Records show he has been released after posting $4,000 bond.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, radio club members determined someone was making threats, using racial slurs and creating “white noise,” or static, on the channels that they use for broadcasting.

 More at the KSAT web site.

Another story via KABB.

Wisconsin ham allegedly murdered by wife of employee he planned to dismiss

John Aegerter, WA9GAR, who ran a communications business in Brookfield, WI, was found brutally murdered June 22.

One of the suspects, Lynn M. Hajny, is the wife of a fellow ham (Albert, WB9LIV) who was reportedly going to lose his job at the business (Air Page, Corp) due to cutbacks. Albert is not a suspect in the slaying as he was unaware of his impending unemployment.

Hajny and a boyfriend, Tommy V. Douyette are charged in the attack.

According to the article:

Aegerter was found face down in the garage, his ankles and neck bound with electrical cords, his face duct-taped and several plastic grocery bags over his head, the reports said. Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Lough said he had broken ribs, a broken nose and "there might have been a knife involved."

Acoording to reports, both suspects have given statements basically confessing to the crime.

He reportedly did not marry or have any kids.