A Memorable Case of Suspicious Behavior
Editor’s Note: The following story about longtime Orient resident Walt Zakupowsky was originally shared in 2005. At the request of his family, we are reprinting it here because many in the community remember the incident with a smile. Walt’s obituary appears in this issue’s printed obituary section.
Suspicious Man Spotted Near Canadian Border
Several area residents this week reported seeing a suspicious man with a yellow backpack walking near the Canadian border. The middle aged man dressed in paint stained navy dickies, brown flannel shirt and fleece hat was seen heading west on the Boundary road by those passing by. A Canadian resident alerted the Customs agents of the suspicious man. The Customs agents called in the Border Patrol to investigate. By the time the Border Patrol arrived the man was heading east on Boundary road. Was this man with the bright yellow backpack up to no good or simply wandering aimlessly? Senior Patrol Agent Douglas Ziegler stopped the man to find out. Upon questioning the man claimed to be Walt Zakupowsky of Maxell Settlement road in Orient. When asked what he was doing on the road with a backpack, Walt replied " I need exercise so I began walking to the post office to get the mail. The backpack is to put the mail in so I don't have to carry it in my hands. There is a triple benefit. With gas at $2.33 a gallon, I save by not driving to get the mail everyday, plus I get exercise with the 3 1/2 mile walk and when the snow melts more I can pick up returnable cans."
Agent Ziegler thanked Walt for his cooperation and went on his way. However, this was not the end of the story. A few days later the "suspicious man with the yellow backpack" was spotted again. Just after lunch there was a knock at the door of the Zakupowsky residence. Heather answered the door and found a young woman dressed in a Border Patrol uniform. The Agent asked if a middle aged man with a yellow backpack lived there. Heather replied, "Yes. That is my husband. Did someone turn him in again?"
The agent looked confused. She said there had been a report of a suspicious looking man with a yellow backpack heading west towards Route One. While traveling the Boundary road she spotted the footprints and they lead up our road and to our door. Heather explained how Walt was walking to the post office and back for exercise. The agent sheepishly apologized for bothering. Heather replied, " Its no bother. Thank you for doing such a good job."
This morning Lisa, the town clerk, called the Zakupowskys. She said that one of the customs agents had inquired about "Who is that man on Maxell Settlement road ?"
Heather was heard to nag, "Maybe if you didn't dress like a transient, you wouldn't look so suspicious. I mean the paint cover pants with the Jed Clampett rope belt really does it!"
Walt replied, " Everyone else wears navy dickies. I'm comfortable in my old work clothes!"
Will the suspicious man with the yellow backpack be turned in again?
