Stunt was no joke

Source: Barrie Examiner
Mr. Lahey's grand entrance into downtown Barrie played out in true Trailer Park Boysstyle.

One person pulled a foolish prank and another got a ticket.

John Dunsworth, 64, who plays Jim Lahey, the deranged trailer park supervisor on the show, was seen car-surfing down Dunlop Street on route to an autograph session.


Sadly, his improv move left 17-year-old Kyle Panezutti with charges, and nearly cost him his licence and wheels.

"That kid had nothing to do with what I did. I just jumped up on his car, kind of improv, and I didn't mean for him to get in trouble," an upset Dunsworth toldThe Barrie ExaminerMonday. "I was just there for an autograph session, we played a gig up the street at Yuk Yuks."

Dunsworth was headed to Liquid Chrome, a water-pipe and lighter superstore, to meet fans and sign posters, and decided it'd be funny to hitch a ride on Panezutti's black GMC Jimmy.

Then, he had a performance with co-star Randy (Patrick Roach) at the Barrie comedy club that night.

He said the stunt wasn't planned and Panezutti didn't know it was coming. "I want people to know he (Panezutti) doesn't know me. I don't know him," Dunsworth said.

Panezutti can second that. The young man said he was merely sitting in traffic, heading down to hopefully catch a glimpse of Mr. Lahey.

But, he didn't expect to have him perched on his mom's SUV.

"I watch (Trailer Park Boys) a lot, and my buddy and I went down to see if we could meet him (Dunsworth) and get a picture," Panezutti said. "I stopped at a light near Liquid Chrome and saw him and said 'Hi' to him. Then, suddenly, I felt someone jump up on top of my car.

"I thought he'd just jump back off, but he just stayed there," he added. "But I was stopped. I wasn't driving fast down the street with him up there."

Jiri Kusak, Liquid Chrome's district manager, said the incident, and Dunsworth's presence, drew a big crowd at his store from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"He (Dunsworth) actually climbed up on some guy's car and car-surfed, before being escorted into our store," Kusak said, with a laugh. "It was pretty funny. I'm guessing there were 300 people there. He drew a great crowd."

Kusak said the crowd loved the stunt, and pictures of it were actually posted on Liquid Chrome's Facebook page.

While Dunsworth insists the stunt was his fault and his idea, a nearby Barrie police officer thought otherwise. He initially charged Panezutti with stunt driving, but later lowered it to careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

Panezutti and his mother, Pandy Stoppert, are livid, and feel the charges should be dropped due to the joking nature of the stunt.

But Barrie Police Chief Wayne Frechette said he believes the charge was necessary.

"It's about him committing a driving offence. If I'm driving, and some guy's on my roof, I'm still the one committing the offence," Frechette said. "We're not looking to charge the other guy, on the car. I don't think we can charge him. There's no charge for stupidity.

"The officer probably talked to that guy, and I really question that guy's (Dunsworth) sanity for doing something like that. But I don't think we were wrong in charging the driver."

Stoppert is furious with Barrie police, and could hardly contain her anger while speaking with The Barrie Examiner, Monday.

"I'm livid with that officer to let this be escalated to this point," the Barrie mom said. "It started out as something weird happening, and has caused so much grief and expense. I'm still trying to get this charge abolished.

"Tell me, how is he responsib

le for an unknown person jumping on his car? I can't grasp this," she added. "I'm still in shock and really frustrated over this."

Stoppert said she actually met with Dunsworth and he accompanied her and her son to the Barrie police station Monday morning.

"He went with us and told the police it wasn't Kyle's fault," she said. "He paid the towing fee for my car, and he said he's willing to pay our legal fees when we go to court.

"He even gave Kyle and his buddy free VIP passes to the show Sunday night and he got up on stage and explained what happened to the crowd," she added.

Frechette said although the charge has been laid, there might still be some hope for Panezutti.

"He (Dunsworth) can, if he wishes, come to Barrie court and testify on the kid's behalf, maybe the judge will believe him and go easy on him," Frechette said. "Maybe it won't make any difference. You never know."

That isn't enough for Stoppert, who wants her son's name cleared. But she could see one silver lining.

"The only thing that saved Kyle is them dropping the charge, which got him his license and his car back today," she said.

ncruickshank @ thebarrieexaminer.co m

Article ID# 2572378