March 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 3

WORDS BY DEPUTY D.S.

WORDS BY DEPUTY D.S. SMITH, RETIRED Balloon Boy - The Great Balloon Hoax of 2009! As I was watching the China balloon drift across America, I couldn’t help but remember another time that a balloon captured America’s attention and, on that occasion, I had a front row seat. It was beautiful day in Colorado. The date was October 15, 2009. I was a deputy for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the day shift in our Valley Patrol area which included Fort Collins. (Sounds like the beginning of a Dragnet Show, but that dates me so moving along) Another deputy and I had just finished grabbing a bite to eat when we got the strangest call, I had ever heard in all of my 20 years of law enforcement. “Any unit clear to assist a homeowner in the 5400 block of Fossil Ridge locate a missing 6-year white male child last seen playing inside a large balloon.” I advised I was enroute and then I’ll never forget the dispatchers update just before I arrived. “Units enroute to Fossil Ridge, be advised the missing juvenile is believed to be inside the balloon which is now airborne.” As I arrived several units from our department were already on the scene and so was a news van. My sergeant walked up to me and said we need to search every inch of this place for a 6-year-old kid. His parents think he may have been in a big balloon they just launched. That must be one big fucking balloon sarge. They taped it. What? They taped it. I walked over to a tripod that was setup in the driveway and the kids’ father, Richard Heene was freaking the hell out jumping and down saying he launched a giant flying saucer balloon, and his kid was playing inside of it earlier and now he can’t find him and Oh my God what the fuck have I done. Show me the tape sir. He rewinds the camera and I look at the grainy video and see what looks like a homemade flying saucer take off into the wind. Below the round part of the balloon was a round box looking structure that Richard says was made of plywood and yes, his kid could fit in it. By this time, dozens of news crews had descended on the location and were everywhere. I went inside the house and caught up with several other deputies who were about to look in the attic. Guys, where did all these fucking news people come from? The FAA and is tracking the damn balloon live on TV. What? I walked back into the den and sure enough, there was this giant silver flying saucer balloon flying across our valley. Supposedly with our missing kid inside. About that time, my sergeant walks back in and says “search every fucking inch of this place and find that damn kid. Everybody in the country is watching 82 The BLUES The BLUES 83 82 The BLUES The BLUES 83