best of the blotter 22

TRESSPASSING, PEARL ROAD: A 19-year-old Independence man and an 18-year-old Brook Park man were cited for trespassing and obstructing official business at 1:33 p.m. after they were seen by officers running from the a grove of trees near St. Ambrose Church, then jumping into a car parked at Rolling Hills Plaza. The car was pulled over for not having an illuminated license plate and it was determined that the duo was trying to steal a blow-up Pepsi bottle decoration in front of the church.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE, HOWE ROAD: A woman called police Friday because her grandson, 17, demanded that she lock herself in the bathroom while he had a female friend over for a visit.

The boy had met a woman on the Internet and he didn’t want his grandmother around while he was romancing his new friend.

The teen’s father arrived and made it clear that the woman wasn’t welcome in the house.

COMPLAINT, MADISON AVENUE: Police received a complaint about kids on the Madison Park playground that were too old to be there at 2:37 p.m. June 10. Officers cited a boy for being too old on the playground.

SUSPICION, MAIN ST.: A pedestrian on the bridge called Saturday to inquire “what the big orange thing in the tree is . . . that almost looks like a person” on the west side of the falls and the south side of the river.

An officer checked and reported that it appeared to be a stuffed animal that someone had tossed up into the tree.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS (UNFOUNDED), SOLON ROAD: A resident reported shortly before 10 a.m. Friday that two men in suits appeared at the door, wanted to come in and wanted to show his daughter a video. After she declined, the pair continued going door-to-door.

When approached, the men explained that they were not solicitors but Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were “not seeking to obtain funds or contributions.”

INDUCING PANIC, RIDGE ROAD: A man entered Flowerama on June 7 and told a clerk that he and his higher power were going to blow up the store to make room for a parking lot.

It happened at about 12:20 p.m. The man then left the store, at 5804 Ridge, and removed several items from his vehicle.

The man left a gray box-like item, an orange cord and a blue box at the edge of the Flowerama parking lot. The items were connected with a cord.

Officers determined that the objects were not explosive devices. Police are looking for the man.