NewsCut

When flushing nails down a toilet, leave the mail at home

The story of the mysterious nail flusher qualifies as among the most bizarre of the year, but we've at least learned some practical advice: Don't flush your mail down the toilet.

Nicholas Mullenmaster, 38, of Saint Paul is under arrest for vandalizing the plumbing systems of area businesses.

It started in early August when someone dumped several pounds of nails down a toilet at a Subway in Eagan, according to WCCO.

Then it happened to several other businesses, each incident costing nearly $1,000 in repairs.

At least one business owner supplied a photograph and video to the police, but it didn't matter.

The police figured out it was allegedly Mullenmaster by late August but he denied involvement and none of the photographs or video showed him actually dumping two pounds of nails down a toilet -- a fact, by the way, which actually gives us some measure of comfort.

What finally did him in? The fatal mistake.

On Sept. 3, Eagan police officers were dispatched to the Transit Station, which is about a block away from Subway, on a report that a man flushed approximately three pounds of nails down the toilet, clogging the sewer system. The manager told police it caused about $800 in damages. The suspect’s description matched that of Mullenmaster and mail, which was discovered by plumbers in the clog, was also addressed to Mullenmaster.