Poplar Bluff water tower punctured by rifle bullet

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Police officials said the city of Poplar Bluff is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent shooting of the Vandover Road water tower.

The 500,000-gallon water tower was put back into service Sept. 13 following maintenance, according to police Detective Corey Mitchell. On the morning of Sept. 15, he said, a resident saw water coming out of the tower and contacted Municipal Utilities employees, who then contacted the police department.

Mitchell said the tower was taken out of service and water was rerouted from other sources to the homes and businesses in that area.

A bullet hole was found on the northwest side of the tank, about three-quarters up from the base and about 100 to 125 feet off the ground, police chief Danny Whiteley said.

It took about 24 hours for crews to drain the rest of the water from the tank, said Carroll Foster, utilities plant superintendent.

"Evidence recovery has been completed, and a large-caliber rifle projectile was located," Whiteley said. "It has been sent to the crime lab for ballistic analysis."

Based on the evidence "recovered so far, we feel confident this was not an accident," Whiteley said. "We believe it was an intentional act."

With the tower out of service, Whiteley said, the residents in the affected area may be noticing a decrease in water pressure.

That low water pressure also may have an effect on firefighters needing to tap into fire hydrants, which potentially could affect "someone's life and/or property," Whiteley said.

A private contractor repaired the water tower Friday, Foster said. Crews will start filling the tank Tuesday.

"It will take 48 hours to do the bacteria samples," Foster explained. "Then, if everything goes right, the tank will be back in service on the 30th."

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.