The independent film phenomenon, sparked by the spooky success of "The Blair Witch Project," has touched down in Austin.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999

The independent film phenomenon, sparked by the spooky success of "The Blair Witch Project," has touched down in Austin.

Two women called the Austin Police Department early this morning after witnessing what they described as a burning man.

When police arrived on the scene at the Turtle Creek Bridge on West Oakland Ave., out toward Mel Saxton’s Austin Ford, they found two cans of HyVee lighter fluid and several wet spots on the bridge.

They called HyVee and discovered that a juvenile employee purchased the lighter fluid.

After some more police work, the story unfolded.

It turns out that Jeb Middlebrook, a 20-year-old from Austin, lit himself on fire in order to be filmed by two 17-year-old filmmakers.

According to reports, Middlebrook, a former star on the Austin High football team, wore several layers of clothing and donned goggles and a paint-ball facemask for the stunt. Before dousing himself with lighter fluid, Middlebrook jumped into the Turtle Creek. Once prepared, he lit himself on fire and the two filmmakers filmed the event.

Officers who talked to Middlebrook reported that he was OK and uninjured.

None of the trio will be charged with a crime.

The boys told police that they performed the stunt early in the morning – 1:48 a.m. – so as not to alarm or disturb anybody.

Cars recovered

Three cars stolen from a Cedar Falls, Iowa dealer were recovered by Mower County Sheriff’s Department deputies Monday.

The three suspects – 32-year-old Patricia Joann Scott and two boys, ages 15 and 17 – were apprehended and charged with felony theft. All three have since been released. All three of the suspects are relatives and from the Minneapolis area.

Two deputies pulled the cars over on Highway 63, south of Racine, at 1:30 a.m. The deputies were following up on a report of simultaneous gas drive-offs at a Kwik Trip in Spring Valley.

The deputies, in two squad cars, pulled the three vehicles over while they were traveling northbound in single-file fashion. The woman attempted to flee on foot, but was tracked down.

The cars, two Cryslers and a Chevy Cavalier, have been returned to Holdiman Motors, which didn’t know the cars were missing until notified by the deputies.