Man arrested for allegedly smashing windows with saucepan

It isn't every day that police have to order a suspect to "drop the saucepan," but that's what Madison officers had to do on Wednesday morning on the east side. The saucepan had allegedly been used to smash windows on residences on South Dickinson Street. Alan Quint, 54, of Madison, was arrested and tentatively charged with four counts of criminal damage to property.

According to a police news release, a call came in at 11:02 a.m. reporting a man armed with a frying pan was breaking windows on homes. "When officers confronted the man as he walked down the middle of Williamson Street, it was clear this was no frying pan, but a saucepan," police spokesman Joel DeSpain said.



Witnesses said Quint whacked at a number of homes and a car on Dickinson Street, breaking out screen door glass at four different houses. "This was very unsettling for one couple at home when the glass broke," DeSpain said. "They didn't know why this was happening."

Quint apparently didn't know why it was happening himself. "Upon questioning by police, the suspect was unable to provide any clear motive," DeSpain said. "He said he wasn't angry with anyone, but this was just what he chose to do." He also told police he wanted to go to jail, and his request was granted.