LANSING MI November 2 2018— A resident in a west side neighborhood called Lansing police on Halloween about several armed security guards walking with kids as they trick or treated, police said.

The presence of the guards created a stir in the Westside Neighborhood Association Facebook group Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Kathy Russell, who made the initial Facebook post, said in the 17 years she has lived in the neighborhood, she’s never heard of problems on Halloween. She took her son home from trick or treating early, because the guards made her nervous.

“Walking around with guns like that invites problems,” Russell said.

At first, she said she thought the men were just dressed up for the holiday. But when she looked closer, she realized the guns were real. Her next thought was that they might be undercover officers, or that something dangerous was going on in the neighborhood, she said.

Lansing police responded and found the guards to be “well within their rights to walk with the kids,” Lansing Police Public Information Director Robert Merritt said.

Eric Wilson, who works with Lansing-based Top Breed Security Services, said he and five other employees volunteered to watch the neighborhood and make sure kids were safe. This is the third year he has done it, he said.

“I see everyone making it a bigger issue than what it is,” Wilson said. “I talked to LPD, let them know where we were going to be at. I met one of them, he said it was cool and he didn’t have issues. After that, we just did our thing.”

Wilson said his only goal was to make sure kids had a safe night.

But Russell their presence made her worry more about her safety.

“They were intimidating, the way they were walking around,” she said. “It made me a little more anxious.”

Molly Pardini saw the guards as she passed out candy on her porch. She, too, initially thoughthe was a parent dressed up.

“I believe it is dangerous, and of zero benefit, to have vigilantes parading around our neighborhood with weapons, especially when children are out having fun in the dark,” Pardini said. “We live in a very safe, welcoming neighborhood. This type of behavior is unwelcome and unacceptable.”

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor posted in the Westside Neighborhood Association Facebook group to address residents’ concerns.

“This invitation was not made by the City,” Schor said. “I was told that they were openly carrying guns. LPD officers were called to the neighborhood to check on the situation and noted that everyone in the group was acting legally. While I understand the concerns of neighbors, open carry is legal in Michigan.”

The Westside Neighborhood Association touts itself as one of the safest areas in the city.

Lansing State Journal

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