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Woman Allegedly Crossed Wires on Power Tool to Shock Hubby

By Kamika Dunlap | Last updated on

A woman angry that her husband left her is accused of tampering with his tools so that he would would receive a powerful electric shock when he used an electric power tool, according to court documents.

She allegedly crossed wires because she was upset at her husband for leaving her, police said.

The Olympian newspaper reports that Carolyn Paulsen-Riat, 33, was booked into county jail for investigation of third-degree assault, domestic violence, and second-degree malicious mischief. A judge released the woman on her own recognizance.

Court records state the man was "knocked to the ground," after he tried to use his table saw and was shocked. 

He then confronted his wife and she "told him that she had tampered with his tools by switching the positive and negative leads on his tools to intentionally harm him."

The man told officials that the table saw carried 220 volts and the plug adapter knocked him into some boxes located along the wall of the work shop.

Paulsen-Riat told detectives she destroyed her husband's vintage Da Vinci accordion, valued at about $5,000, and an antique tool chest valued at about $3,000.

A deputy seized Paulsen-Riat's 9 mm semi-automatic pistol while investigators were at the residence.

When detectives spoke with Paulsen-Riat, "she admitted that she had crossed the wires on (his) power tools on September 28, 2009, because she was angry with him for leaving."

The incident comes on the heels of a recall announcement which the CPSC hopes will help the rest of us avoid shocks.

As discussed in FindLaw's Common Law, the agency believes that certain long running DIY home repair books might lead those of us hungry for a little DIY home improvement to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring leading to shock or fire hazards.

Lucikly for most people, no injuries have been reported.

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