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Police: Prank Calls Helped Set Up N.Y. Shooting

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Dec 3, 2007 4:24 pm US/Eastern

Police: Prank Calls Helped Set Up N.Y. Shooting

Pair Arrested After Their Boss Fires Shotgun While Deputy On Scene

BINGHAMTON, N.Y (CBS) ―

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A 51-year-old man upset by a series of prank phone calls was wounded by a Broome County deputy after firing a shotgun into the air outside his home, authorities said Monday.

William Wrighter, 27, and Erin Dorwart, 22, both of Binghamton, were charged with making the phone calls that led to the shooting, said Broome County Sheriff David Harder.

The pair called the county 911 center at about 2 a.m. Sunday to report a dispute involving alcohol and a man and a woman at a home in the Town of Windsor owned by Richard Siegrist. There was no such dispute, the sheriff said. Wrighter and Dorwart also called two different cab companies and a locksmith to go to the residence, Harder said.

Deputy Alan Bennett arrived at the same time a taxi was pulling into Siegrist's driveway.

Siegrist came out of the home with a 12-gauge shotgun and fired into the air, Harder said. Siegrist leveled the weapon toward the cab and that's when Bennett fired his service weapon, hitting Siegrist in the leg, the sheriff said.

Harder said Dorwart worked for Siegrist at a pharmacy in Binghamton. Dorwart and Wrighter also made harassing calls to Siegrist's home before police showed up, the sheriff said.

Wrighter and Dorwart were charged with misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, falsely reporting an incident and aggravated harassment. They were being held in the Broome County jail. No charges were filed against Siegrist, although the investigation was continuing, the sheriff said.

Siegrist was treated for a leg wound at Wilson Memorial Medical Center in Johnson City.