Michigan police pressure family to alter holiday decorations (my title)

ABC News ^

[Grig]

Police Investigate Distressing Holiday Display
Royal Oak, Michigan

December 6, 2001 — Some people are taking Chris and Sue Salah's Christmas display a little too seriously.

Instead of the usual blinking lights and dangling icicles, the Salahs have a dangling man hanging from their home. It's a dummy that looks like it had an ugly mishap while hanging Christmas lights.

But some of their neighbors didn't get the joke, fearing the dangling man was real. Sue Salah says the police officer sent to investigate thought it was funny, but asked them to take it down anyway.

[Grig]

I'll cut the police some slack on this one I think.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Good sense of humor - bad timing. Try April fools day.

[American in Israel]

Beyond tacky. Welcome to the days of Noah.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[LADY J]

Seems some have forgotten the meaning of Christmas.

[RGSpincich]

Sue Salah says the police officer sent to investigate thought it was funny, but asked them to take it down anyway.

Merry Christmas. They have been sued by one area lawyer, citing "the cavalier attitude Salahs have toward personal injury".

Gotcha!

[Larry Lucido]

LMAO! I showed this to my wife to illustrate the danger of Christmas decorations. She ain't buying it.

[Prodigal Son]

I think it's pretty funny.

[VeritatisSplendor]

That's when everyone gets their lights down, right?

[S.O.S121.500]

"ITS ART!"

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Pun?

[germanicus]

Me too. It's the only laugh I've had this morning reading most of the other basically depressing posts.

[Frapster]

I nearly spurted hot-chocolate all over my monitor. That's a hoot!

[CatsTasteLikeChicken]

WHY? It is a funny joke and the police have NO LEGAL rights here. Sure they can ASK, but that is all. I would tell them "thanks for asking but the answer is no" And they couldn't do a thing!

[Republic of Texas]

I'm with you, where's out sense of humor? (Dave asks before he goes out to hang the Christmas lights)

[thatsnotnice]

But some of their neighbors didn't get the joke, fearing the dangling man was real.

The neighbors are real… real stupid.

I hate to be picky but did they think the guy was hanging the lights with his feet? In a real accident he’d probably be sprawled out on top of the ladder on the ground, not hanging by a string of lights by his leg (the light string won’t support you anyway – try it).

I can also tell you first hand that if you start to fall you’ll probably take down a section of gutter with you. Someone can try that too, if they want.

[PatrioticAmerican]

LOL!!! Cops: the ultimate dummies!

[RGSpincich]

Good to see the group with a sense of humor show up.

[another cricket]

Sure they can ASK, but that is all. I would tell them "thanks for asking but the answer is no" And they couldn't do a thing!

Well, that does depend. Is this visible from the road? It could be considered so visually distracting to qualify as a traffic hazard depending on the local ordinances

If it is in the back yard and not visible from the street then you are right.

BTW Cats do not taste like chicken; they taste more like nice lean pork.

a.cricket

[Lancey Howard]

"...the police officer sent to investigate thought it was funny, but asked them to take it down anyway."

"I would tell them "thanks for asking but the answer is no" And they couldn't do a thing!"

All the police did was "ask", and they argued that they were getting a bunch of needless emergency calls, etc. The police made a reasonable request to the homeowner. The homeowner, agreeing that the police didn't need the extra hassle, did the polite thing and removed the joke.

Why would you tell the police to get screwed?

[breakem]

A couple of streets over the neighbors always do some sick thing. The Easter bunny tied to the chimmney, a scarecrow hanging from the roof by the neck and on and on. We love it, walk by there every holiday to view their latest creation.