DOCUMENT: Bizarre, Celebrity, Crime

Man Shoots TV Over Bristol Palin Dancing

Suspect surrendered after 15-hour standoff with cops

Bristol Palin

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Palin DWTS Shooting

NOVEMBER 17--Like most Americans, Steven Cowan has been perplexed by Bristol Palin’s curious ability to keep advancing in TV’s "Dancing with the Stars" competition.

However, unlike other viewers, Cowan, 67, allegedly became so enraged by Palin’s success that he actually fired a shotgun round into his television, triggering a 15-hour standoff with Wisconsin cops.

According to a criminal complaint, Cowan’s wife called police Monday evening to report that her husband had blasted the TV and was threatening to kill himself. Cowan, who had been drinking, became angry while watching Palin, 20, perform on the ABC program.

As Palin, pictured at left, was dancing, Cowan “jumped up and swore, saying something to the effect of, ‘The fucking politics.’ Steven was upset that a political figure’s daughter was dancing on this particular show when Steven did not think that she was a good dancer,” the complaint notes. Cowan is pictured in the above mug shot.

Janice Cowan told Dane County Sheriff's Office deputies that she called 911 after her husband blasted the TV and then pointed the shotgun at her. She added that Cowan warned her that he would kill himself if she brought anyone back to their home in the town of Vermont.

After a lengthy standoff with cops, Cowan surrendered yesterday at 11 AM. He is facing disorderly conduct and weapons charges.

He was sitting in the Dane County jail last night when Palin landed a spot in the “Dancing with the Stars” finals. However, a sheriff’s spokesperson told TSG that Cowan “currently does not have access to television.” (3 pages)

Comments (77)

if any of you who are commenting watched the show you would realize that she i *** horirble at dancing and there is on reason she should still be on the show and if you ask me it is a conspiriacy to keep on her the show to get her mother press, (fyi, i'm a huge republican), there were much better dancers and i feel this man's sentiment and i felt about the same while watching the show with my girlfriend
What's horrible is your spelling! Gee, get a dam clue!
There are probably just as many people out there who wouldn't vote for Bristol because she is who she is. I was on the live chat just after the show, and the hate that was directed at her was palpable. And I mean hate. This young girl has as much right to compete as anyone else. She was torn to ribbons when her mother was running for vice-president. And now she is trying to help girls to have the courage to say no and mean it. She uses her own life as an example and she should be commended. She doesn't have to do it, but she chooses to. Personally, I hope Kyle wins. He is a fantastic entertainer and has really come a long way.
SheetMadraars .......unfortunate your mother did not practice celibacy nine months before you were born. the world would be better off............. Ken Taylor.....Speaking of worthless..........too bad your mother didn't flush you down the commode after having sex!.................Thank you so much for the both of you so poignantly proving our point. If you disagree with someone, then just attack them with vile, hate-filled comments like yours. So much for the "tolerant" left. If you weren't so dangerous to this once-great country and all the principles upon which it was founded, you would make for great comic relief. .
Poopy pants - and now for something completely different.... SheetMadraars .......unfortunate your mother is sexy as all hell! Did you not practice for nine months before you spanked the monkey? The world was the next frontier and better off thanks to Tom Thumb............. Ken Taylor.....Speaking of net worth..........It's too late....too late....too late...oh yeah!!! Your mother didn't flush again and I see a deuce in the bowl! You see it down in the commode after having sex!.................Thank you so much for the both of you! O I love you! So our point is moot. If you disagree with someone, then just attack them with puke; yours. So much for the rappers. If you weren't so smelly to this -odd country star and all the students upon which it was laid some serious pipe, you would make for great comic relief. Amen brother.
She is trying to help girls to have the courage to say no and mean it but is easier said than done. After she went out in public and made that speech few weeks later she was trying to make with the baby daddy. But I don't blame her or condone her it’s all her mom’s doing, pushing her for her own sake to get publicity.
she has the right to compete but she should not still be on the show, by the way, don't get knocked up and then go on a campaign for celibacy, she is a worthless person who has two left feet, however, i agree kyle should win
unfortunate your mother did not practice celibacy nine months before you were born. the world would be better off.
Now you are the dance police? Apparently there are a number of people who enjoy watching her dance. I don't enjoy it when her mother is on the show, but I am glad they put Bristol on this year.
No - but, I am the dance police and Brandy should have won but, honestly who cares?
Speaking of worthless..........too bad your mother didn't flush you down the commode after having sex!
I've never watched this show before but I sure will now just to get the phone numbers so I can call to vote for Bristol Palin. If for no other reason just because it pisses off all the right people. GO BRISTOL!
There are probably just as many people out there who wouldn't vote for Bristol because she is who she is. I was on the live chat just after the show, and the hate that was directed at her was palpable. And I mean hate. This young girl has as much right to compete as anyone else. She was torn to ribbons when her mother was running for vice-president. And now she is trying to help girls to have the courage to say no and mean it. She uses her own life as an example and she should be commended. She doesn't have to do it, but she chooses to. Personally, I hope Kyle wins. He is a fantastic entertainer and has really come a long way.
Has anyone thought that those voting for Bristol could be the thousands of teenagers and others she's touched all across the country that she speaks to about the consequences of teen pregnancy? I'm more prone to believe her peers are the majority of those that are texting, tweeting, calling, making the effort, etc. to keep her on the show. Love or hate the Palins, not everything has to be politcally motivated.
Proof the Palin derangement crowd are the domestic terrorists laying in wait in this day and age (well I guess they always have been when we include Bill Ayers and his crowd from the 60's who are teaching their trade to the kids of today in our lefty run universities) . Regardless, many many of these people are deranged and dangerous ....a heartbeat away from blown gaskets Wait until Obama's impeachment begins..
Okay..I am a professional dancer and I too watch DWTS!!! Now from what I seen Bristol is not qualified to still be on it!! I don't understand who is voting for her because she is not as good as the other finalist. Dancing is an art. Whatever dance you do you act the part. I have witnessed her week after week with the same lame expressions on her face and her stiff movements. I just don't get how the hell she was able to advance into the next round!!! Oh I do get it, Can we say POLITICS!!!! Idc who thinks that the republicans are not behind this! Theres no way in hell that people actually choose Bristol over Brandy!!! I'm sorry I'm just not buying it!!! Mark my words when I say that she is gonna win it!!! Even the judges and the rest of the finalist were shock that she is still there. I'm done with this season of DWTS!! It's a rigged show and I can't stand it!! If she was on SYTYCD she wouldn't have even made it through to Vegas!!!
I think that the metal pole that you hunch and scrub up against must have had a few metal splinters that infected that squishy liberal mush that YOU call a brain. If I tip you enough do I get a free BJ???
yes you do - good job and congratulation!
Okay...I am a professional leader and Bristol is as qualified to win DWTS as Obama was to win for president. It was a rigged elections and the democrats were behind it! See how silly this sounds, it's simple, more people texted or voted online for Bristol. Geez, it's a stupid dancing show, no hanging chads here.
Okay....okay wait....okay. My mother, a Republican, called me like so upset that Bristol was still dancing. I said to her, "OMG! I cannot even believe you are still watching that show much less a reality show!" She retorted to me, "You were one of 5-million people that watched Sarah dangling her neighbor's child in front of a momma grizzly, so look who's talking!" I couldn't believe that she was still holding that over my head, me being a Republican and all. I we were on the same side, besides some minor incidentals. I then told her that if she didn't like watching Bristol dance maybe she should taser her TV as she is not allowed to have a gun seeing as her medication makes her a little loopy and all. "You should taser your TV if you don't like to watch Bristol!" I am a professional writer and all, Okay, but I got my message across.....right?
The viewers vote for their FAVORITE dancer -- not the BEST dancer -- you nitwit. You're thinking of the US Supreme Court where the judges make decisions based on politics. You need to turn in all of your weapons to the local law enforcement agency, take another Prozac, and make an appointment with your Shrink (you Jack Wad).
Don't you just love it when someone the liberals hate does something to drive the morons insane. I am LOVING it!!! LOL
By starting this article off with "Like most Americans...", the writer is showing his lefty bias. Not surprising cuz 1) TSG is based in NYNY, and 2) it's a Turner company. Not only is there no evidence to support his "Like most Americans..." claim, obviously many Americans are supporting Bristol. We'll find out next week if it's "most Americans" or not. And then if she wins, heads will explode and cried of "RIGGED!" will be rampant, but if she loses (as she should...Jennifer should win), it will be turned into a referendum on Palin's chances for winning the Presidency. (She can't win!) Same thing that is happening with Joe Miller in Alaska, even though Leeza Meer Cow Ski, the woman who needed FOUR tries to pass the bar but was appointed by Daddy anyway, and then has the gall to call Sarah not "intellectually curious", is stealing the election.
Good thing Cowan was not in the audience at the time. It is about time for the medical community to classify liberallism as a mental disorder requiring institutional treatment. Surely, Cowan must be related to Janet Reno. You may recall - Reno was the liberal who ordered 33 women, children, and babies to be incinerated in their home in Waco, TX in 1993. Nothing more horrific than a liberal in power. America is at war against 2 murderous religous/political philosophies: radical Islam and liberalism.
Wow! The liberal lunatics are rife in Wisconsin. I have inlaws and their friends in that state and they are all tin foil fruitcake jackwagons that fell out of their tree at the thought of their new Republican Gov. All terrified of losing their free stuff. I love that the Palin family gets under their skins...Keep on dancing Bristol...drive another deranged freak to the loony bin.
You can look at the picture of this idiot and tell that he is a few fries short of a happy meal.
Does anybody complaining actually watch this show? Then they would understand that THE VIEWERS are the ones who vote to eliminate or retain the contestants, not the judges. Politics?? Hardly...