Here is the mugshot of the dangerous “banana terrorist”
A Colorado man claiming to be a stand-up comedian was arrested after he allegedly pointed a loaded banana at police officers, which evidently caused them to fear for their lives. [1] The absurd incident occurred on Saturday in Grand Junction. Police approached 28-year-old Nathen Channing after they spotted him walking down the sidewalk waving around a “yellow object.” According to an arrest affidavit, Mesa County deputies Joshua Bunch and Donald Love said they feared for their lives even though they saw that the object was yellow. Bunch wrote in the affidavit that he has seen handguns in many shapes and colors. [2] “I observed Nathen reach into the left side of his coat with his right hand and pull out a yellow object, pointing it in the air then in my direction as I approached him,” reported ironically-named Deputy Joshua Bunch in the arrest affidavit. “Nathen drew the object in the same manner someone would draw a standard handgun from a concealed holster.” [3] Upon seeing the ripe fruit, Bunch “immediately ducked into his patrol car and drove away, afraid that Channing had a weapon,” according to 9news.com. [4] “He then called another deputy in the area and warned him of the situation.” Bunch’s statement goes on to note that the other deputy, Donald Love, “was in fear for his life at this point, and was in the process of pulling out his hand gun when Nathen yelled ‘It’s a banana!’” [5] When questioned by police, Channing explained that “he does a lot of Youtube” and was perfecting a “funny joke” which he thought would “lighten the holiday spirit.” But why did he pointed the banana towards the officers? It seems that the Self-proclaimed comedian thought it would be funny to make law enforcement go bananas. [6] While pulling anything out of your clothing and pointing it at two peace officers seems a good way to go if you want more orifices than you woke up with, Nathan Rolf somehow managed to walk away from the encounter un-perforated. [7] Channing apologized to sheriff’s deputies, admitting that he “may have taken the joke too far.” They were unmoved and placed Channing under arrest. [8] Deputy Bunch wrote in his affidavit: “Nathen, by physical action, knowingly placed Deputy Love and I in imminent fear by use of an article fashioned in the manner to cause us to reasonably believe it was a deadly weapon.” Instead of YouTube, the banana bandit might have to use his comedic talents to impress fellow inmates. Ironically, his mugshot depicts Channing donning banana-yellow prison garb. If convicted, he could receive one to three years in prison and a fine of between $1,000 and $100,000. [9]
