Prosecutor suspended for pulling gun on fake spiders

LOGAN, W.Va., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- An assistant prosecutor in West Virginia is on indefinite suspension for allegedly pulling a gun in his office over some fake spider Halloween decorations.

Logan County Prosecutor John Bennett said assistant prosecutor Chris White, who has been with the office four more than five years, was suspended Wednesday in connection with the Oct. 5 incident.

"I never saw it coming, that's for sure. Obviously, I wouldn't have even hired him if I had seen it coming. And the fact that he's been there five years and we haven't had any incidents like this also, to me, is a pretty good indication it's certainly out of the ordinary," Bennett told WCHS-TV.

Bennett said the incident took place after secretaries in the office put up Halloween decorations, including several fake spiders.

"He said they had spiders everyplace and he said he told them it wasn't funny, and he couldn't stand them, and he did indeed get a gun out. It had no clip in it, of course they wouldn't know that, I wouldn't either if I looked at it, to tell you the truth," Bennett said.

He said White only threatened to shoot the spiders and didn't point it at anyone in the office.

"Quite naturally, the ladies were concerned, as I would have been. Anybody would be, I would think, with a gun no matter where it was," Bennett said.

Bennett said he sent out a memo after the incident banning firearms from the office.

Police said the incident remains under investigation, but no charges are expected at this time.