Outlandish stunts are part of most morning disc jockey's repertoires, but they don't usually land the perpetrators in jail. That changed Wednesday when a KISS 96.7 FM DJ was arrested at a South Austin convenience store for one of his morning show pranks.
Known professionally as "Lunchbox," Dan Chappell entered the Every Time Food Mart on South Congress wearing a stocking mask over his face to buy a pack of gum.
As Chappell approached the counter, the clerk, Atif Akhlaque, hit the silent alarm button to summon the police.
Chappell, 22, was charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class B misdemeanor.
"That charge has nothing to do with terrorism," said Kevin Buchman, a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department. "For example, if I threaten to do physical damage to you, I can be charged with a terroristic threat. I terrorized you, and you felt threatened."
Akhlaque said he felt threatened by Chappell's attire and his demeanor.
"He came in with a stocking on his head. That is usually used for bank-robbing purposes," he said.
Chappell was on his cell phone receiving directions from his morning show cohorts, Akhlaque added.
"All the time he was on the cell phone. I was thinking he was going to give a signal and call the rest of his teammates," he said.
Chappell was alone when he bought the gum, Buchman said.
In a statement released yesterday, market manager Dusty Black said, "KISS FM does not endorse behavior that may endanger the public or our employees, and we take these matters very seriously."
The station has indefinitely suspended Chappell and Bobby Bones, who hosts the show that planned the prank. Black said the station will conduct an internal review of the situation.
Akhlaque said he disapproved of the prank because similar situations could have ended badly.
"It's very common knowledge that convenience stores carry guns for safety purposes," he said. "They could jeopardize a listener's life if they ask a listener to attempt something like this."
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