The Defuser: Can leap Yao Ming in a single bound. Probably.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s nuthin’ but net.

Actually, flight is not one of the powers of Det. Jarrett Crippen, aka APD’s own superhero the Defuser. This afternoon he’ll be participating in the Austin Elk’s Lodge No. 201 Annual Hoop Shoot. More than 100 children, ages 8-13, are expected to take part in Austin, but they’ll be amongst 3 million kids participating nationally in the world’s biggest free throw competition. The event runs from 3pm to 6pm today at the city’s Turner Roberts Recreation Center.

So what’s the Defuser been up to recently? According to his blog, Crippen just returned from Bulgaria where he’s been shooting the upcoming Sci-Fi channel original movie Lightning Strikes with Kevin Sorbo (he of Hercules and Andromeda fame.)

This article appears in January 9 • 2009.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.