blake
Life Member

Michigan ‘Panther’ Is Actually Stuffed Toy
5/19/2009
Last Thursday, police in Warren, Michigan, tasered what seemed to be a large “panther” in a sewer pipe in Bates Park.
Police responded to a call at 8:30 p.m. reporting the “150-pound” panther.
"Officers could see the outline of what appeared to be a panther-like animal lying in the tube, looking out at them," William Dwyer, Warren’s police commissioner, said. "They backed out, for fear of it lunging at them."
After an hour of debate on what to do about the animal, the responding officers followed orders to taser the cat. It didn’t move. Police found themselve’s staring at a life-size stuffed toy panther, and now believe the call was a prank.
Even though the prank resulted in three over-time hours for an animal control officer, the police commissioner believes the officers showed good judgment, since black panther sightings in Michigan are rare, but a definite possibility, according to the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy.
"If, in fact, it was a panther and it got in the neighborhoods, we would’ve had a crisis on our hands," Dwyer said. "This could’ve been a standoff for several hours, tying up a number of personnel that could’ve been used for service and other patrols."