By: Mark Wayne

Date: May 2022

           The Louisa Police Department are elevating their presence at the U.S. 23 Exxon, known as the Birdhouse, after an incident this past weekend involving two teenage workers and visitors passing through Louisa. The teenage workers are safe, but their identities are being omitted, as they are underage.

            The two teenagers were working at the U.S. 23 Exxon when a group of three people with out-of-state license plates were pumping gas at pumps 6, 7, and 9. Reviewed video footages show them finish pumping gas and walking into the bathroom.

            “I was in the bathroom ‘cleaning’ when these three guys come in and start talking about such a nice little gas station. They mentioned the bathroom wasn’t as clean as they expected for a castle… and that just got under my skin. Here I am with cleaning supplies in hand and they have the audacity to call it a ‘castle’. This is clearly a birdhouse. I couldn’t let that slide.”

            Video footage then shows the teenage employee calmly and hurriedly run behind the counter and grab the phone. The teenager remained on the phone as the three men exit the bathroom and begin to peruse the aisles, selecting various snacks and drinks.

            Louisa Police Chief Craig Hughlett and Lawrence County Sheriff Buck Mackson both confirmed they each dispatched a unit immediately to the scene. Video footage shows them arriving approximately 3 minutes after the teenager is seen placing the phone call.

            “When we heard there were some idiots disrespecting our town by calling The Birdhouse a “castle” we knew we couldn’t let that slide. We immediately sent back-up to these two young teenagers. Luckily Craig and I already had a protocol in place if something like this happens. We’ve actually ran this joint drill several times and luckily the teenagers working that day had been present for one of our drills.” commented Buck Mackson.

            As law enforcement entered the building, the teenage workers are seen heading toward the Baskin Robins counter. After several minutes of conversation, you can see the officers reaching for their tasers and direct them toward the three men. The footage is not in color, but we assume the three men were white since the officers drew their tasers and not their guns.

            The two officers then began to savagely and repeatedly taser the three men while the teenage workers were throwing ice cream snowballs at the man not actively being tased. “Luckily the flavor of the month had almonds in it, so we were able to do some damage throwing our ice cream snowballs. It’s always a joy to help law enforcement,” said one of the teenage workers.

  Audio recording captured the Louisa PD Officer saying, “Call it a castle one more time! I dare you! I dare you! Go ahead, make my day! You think a castle would be this dirty? No, they have servants to clean castles. This is clearly a birdhouse! Say it! Say Birdhouse or you’re getting the taser again!”

An ambulance is seen arriving approximately 15 minutes later, and the three men were loaded into the ambulance. “We sent them to Three Rivers Medical Center after we were through with them. They don’t deserve to go to King’s Daughters for disrespecting our town like they did.” commented the Deputy Sheriff at the scene.

Louisa PD and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department then confiscated everything the three men had on them via Civil Forfeiture laws. Civil forfeiture laws allow law enforcement to seize any property they claim is involved in a crime regardless of whether or not the owners are arrested or convicted.

Local law enforcement will be increasing patrols and the Baskin Robbins will be stocking up on more ice cream with almonds in order to keep citizens of Lawrence County safe at the Birdhouse.