ASHBY — A report of two suspicious individuals in a backyard on Erickson Road led to a police search Tuesday morning, but Ashby Police say the incident turned out to be part of a game called “Senior Manhunt.”
According to a press release from the Ashby Police Department, dispatch received a 911 call around 8:00 a.m. on March 8, reporting two unknown males in the backyard of a home near the intersection of Erickson and Piper Roads. The caller said the individuals left in a small gray SUV, last seen turning onto Richardson Road.
Officers responded to the scene and searched the area, but were unable to locate the vehicle. Police in surrounding towns were also notified.
Later, Ashby Police identified the occupants of the SUV as two female juveniles participating in the game “Senior Manhunt”—a popular student activity involving teams attempting to “tag” others with water guns. Officers say the teens had mistakenly gone to the wrong address in search of their target. No property was damaged, and there was no attempt to enter the home.
“This game is popular among students across our country and while it may seem like fun, please realize that it has the potential for serious consequences,” the department said in the statement. “It also ties up resources; the communities surrounding ours have been dealing with similar incidents that have involved erratic driving and other suspicious activity. In a time when toy guns don’t always look like toys, and young adults are not always innocent, wrong assumptions can be made, and there is a real possibility for someone to get hurt.”
Police urged residents to report any suspicious activity by calling 911 and reminded students to be mindful of the potential dangers and disruptions caused by such games.
If you’re a cop and you can’t stop yourself from shooting a kid with a squirt gun, you need to be FIRED!!!!