Lindy Lane Residents and the STATUE of Jesus

UPDATE:

Sunday night, Jean told WZZM 13 News the statue had been returned, taken not by neighbors but by a family member. She declined to explain further, only that this has now become a family situation.

Jean says she is happy the statue is back, and says she doesn't intend to press charges.

I think Mansel owes her neighbors an apology.
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Owners need to clean up after their dogs.

It's not cool to allow pets to do their business on others' lawns and then leave the droppings for those homeowners to remove.

I completely agree with the Lindy Lane residents who are ticked off by the actions of an inconsiderate neighbor.

I completely disagree with the way they chose to address the matter.

From WZZM 13:

Some Oakfield Township residents have taken what's not theirs to prove a point.

Anonymous residents on Lindy Lane claim Jean Mansel isn't picking up after her dogs, so to entice her to do so, they took something close to her heart.

Those residents say their Mansel's wiener dogs leave their leavings in their yard.

So, they stole her 80 pound statue of Jesus.

Mansel says she cherishes her cement Jesus statue; it was an heirloom from her late uncle.

"There were footprints behind it, and footprints in front of it," she says, pointing out where the statue used to be.

It was Thursday morning when Jean walked outside to find Jesus gone.

"My husband got a phone call and a real graspy voice over the phone said 'check your mailbox'."

In the mailbox was a ransom note.

"The note basically said they were holding Jesus for ransom."

The note reads: “We are holding Jesus ransom until you clean up the poopie from your wieners and trust us we see you take your wieners for long walks w/out picking up their poopie in our yards. This has upset us dearly so please clean up all the weiner poopie, if you want to see Jesus unharmed. Sincerely, Lindy Lane Residents.”

...Jean has four wiener dogs and admits there was a complaint last year about their leavings. But she says she's cleaned up every pile since.

"I take my dogs for walks, I carry a plastic bag with me and pick up anything that they do."

Now, Jean just wants her statue back, and says she won't press charges if Jesus isn't harmed.

Obviously, the media are loving this story because they get to say things like "Jean walked outside to find Jesus gone" and "she won't press charges if Jesus isn't harmed." I find that disrespectful.

As far as the matter itself, either Mansel is lying or some Lindy Lane resident is still holding a grudge from last year's problem.

In either case, stealing Mansel's statue and then harassing her and her husband with the menacing phone call and the goofy note is juvenile.

I doubt that taking her statue will change Mansel's ways, if she is indeed doing what the "anonymous" residents claim she's doing.

If the Lindy Lane residents were serious about solving the problem, they should take video of Mansel and her dogs. Assuming not picking up after your dog is a violation in Oakfield Township, they should take that video evidence to police and have her cited for her behavior.

Bottom line: I'm glad that I don't live on Lindy Lane.