HAHAHA...
I've never heard of anyone trying to stop an engine from running by prying open the hood.
Most of my "similar" experiences were with Smog Testers and DMV folks... The DMV guy kept asking me to open the "hood" and pointed up front... so I did... and I show him the VIN plate and stamping... Then he asks me to open the "trunk" in the rear and I said "Why, there's no VIN plate back there..." and he said just open it, so I did.
Finally hes says... "OK, I gotta see the engine..." and I said, "All ya had to do was ask!"
Most of the Smog Testers had the same trouble... and then would not know where to hook up their equipment or where the carb idle and A/F adjustments were.
I believe its no wonder I would FAIL one year, and then do nothing and pass the second time... HA!