Was it right to call the police on some "Paranormal Investigators"?

Question

I called the police on some "paranormal" ghost investigators that were in a local cemetary. I told them that what they are doing is disrespectful and to get lost or I was going to call the police.
The police came, issued their leader a citation. And told them to leave and he said to them "Next time you are here, after dark without a permit, I will place you under arrest". That was awesome. They can go chase ghosts in their imaginations.

Answer 1

If people are traipsing around in a cemetery in the dark, chances are they are up to something and probably shouldn't be there. I agree, whackjob ghosthunters getting their jollies there is disrespectful. Not that I believe in spooks, but if my grandmother is buried there, I sure as hell don't want them stumbling all over her grave in the dark.

As for whether it was right or not, well, you didn't make the law. The police officer wouldn't have warned the people if they weren't doing something wrong. So, since they WERE doing something wrong, I think you were in the right.

Answer 2

Yes, you were in the right when you notified the authorities. However, the officer should have asked the group if they had obtained permission to conduct the investigation in the cemetery. If they had permission, then there wasn't anything anyone could do. As a member of a local Paranormal Investigative group in my hometown, we stress the importance of obeying the law and obtaining permission from the people or person who owns the property. This way, we are not tresspassing on the property. From what you stated you told these investigators, you could have been a little more tactfull and courteous with them, but in all, you were just showing concern. As for them being disrespectfull, a credible group will insure that their investigation is conducted with the utmost respect for those buried there and the family members of the deceased. You sound like a person who has never had a paranormal experience. Not everyone has or will have one, but until it happens to you, all we ask is that you not call us freaks or anything of the kind. Just remember, the next time you get the feeling that someone is watching you while you are in an empty house or by yourself or you think you hear a deceased relative calling your name, or anything else happens to you that you cannot explain, turn around and speak to them. Then, join a local paranormal group and learn how to handle the situation. You don't have to be a believer in order to have an experience. They happen to non-believers all the time. Thanks.

Answer 3

Unless the cemetery displays a sign stating that no one is allowed on the cemetery after dusk, I don't see the problem here. How do you define being in a cemetery as being disrespectful, especially since you had been on the cemetery as well in order to tell the investigators "to get lost".

Obviously you know very little about paranormal investigating, so let me give you a little insight. Paranormal investigators, in fact, have a great amount of respect for the dead. They believe that anyone being disrespectful on an investigation will not receive communications from the spirits, which is the last thing they want. Thus, this means no vandalizing, being obnoxious, or even littering. The investigator's only mission is to gain scientific evidence of life after death by taking some photographs or video tape, and maybe making some audio recordings on a hand-held device... all of which are completely harmless to the cemetery itself and those at rest on it. In fact, paranormal investigators feel so strongly about the vandalizing and disrespect of cemeteries that I personally know of instances where they have staked out cemeteries where this was happening and informed the authorities themselves.

So, to answer your question "was it right to call the police", if you have to ask that question you must have some doubts. Next time get your facts in order and think before acting, especially when it has to do with something you do not understand.

Answer 4

Well for one, what they were doing is none of your business. I am a paranormal investigator (laugh if you want, I don't care) and yes many of you may think it's stupid, or silly or whatever. I have my reasons for what I do. The group I work with is very professional and RESPECTFUL! I am not out there worshiping the devil or anything like that. I am trying to find a way to show proof that yes, these things are real, not for any glory or anything like that, but to show people that hey, maybe if all this is real, then there could quite possibly be a God. I believe in him, and I want others to as well. Some people just aren't receptive to the idea of a higher power, but the ones like that, that I know are more receptive to things like ghosts. So I am trying a new method.

Now, you said they were "paranormal investigators" so you KNEW they weren't hurting anything, yet you took it upon yourself to call the police. You need to get a life. If they had been ripping the place apart then yeah, call the cops, otherwise, stay in your little house and live your little sheltered life and leave everyone else alone. Just because you don't agree with or understand what someone else is doing does not make you right. When you go and put someone else down for something they are passionate about it makes you look stupid.

And did it ever occur to any of you that maybe some of these people are just looking for answers? They aren't out to hurt anyone, they are on their own mission trying to find an answer to something that has left a burning question in their mind.

Please if you don't agree with what we do, that's fine, because we probably don't agree with everything we do, and quite frankly we really don't care. We don't bother you while you are doing something you enjoy, so don't bother us when we are out doing something we enjoy!

Answer 5

Only if they were loud or vandalizing something. I doubt the law has anything about ghost hunting unless the ghost's have a complaint filed with the police department. However you may try talking to the cemetary manager and see if they have a sign posted about that kind of thing. Then it would be illegal for ghost hunters to be there at night.

Answer 6

You ask a multi part question while asking for a simple answer. I believe it was wrong for you to assume that you could read someone else's mind. What they were doing may have been disrespectful in your mind and you could have stated that as your belief. Second, it was wrong for you to try to force them out because you were offended. Nazi Germany no longer exist and you don't have the right (at least in the US) to force others to act like you act or believe. If you had expained that the cemetary was locked at night and it was illegal/trespassing to be there and they needed to leave that would have been more acceptable.

I agree that all investigators (and journalist) should have permission to be where they are (if this had been done during visiting hours it would have been acceptable) for any investigation. Many places won't grant permissions and that rejection should be made public on the organizations website and if possible in the local newspaper and then the investigation should not proceed.
Your last comment is about appropriate as me saying in this post "I hope bad dreams about your most recently caring family member that passed way haunts you with all those things left unsaid and undone" Yes, you were within your legal rights (as am I) but its in poor taste. Pleasant dreams.

MIchael John Weaver

Answer 7

The paranormal group should have obtained a permit and I dont believe they were disrespectful just didnt go about the investigation in the right way. Probably the right thing to have done was give them the option to leave or at the very least let them know that a permit was needed

Answer 8

I think T.R. has a good point. You wouldn't expect the police to have cited the team if they weren't doing anything illegal. At the same time though, were they investigators really being disrespectful? If they truly believed in what they were doing, and were concerned for the spirits that they were investigating, then what's the big deal? Even if it was technically illegal, what's the big deal? Nothing you said indicates that they were mal-intentioned. I seems as though you didn't like what they believed, and as a result of that you labeled them as disrespectful just because of their presence.

Answer 9

It is not my place to judge, nor tell you what is right or wrong. Hypothetically speaking, but what if a family hired these folks out of desparation. Maybe an unsolved murder and they were at ropes end and were praying that these folks could help them? What if after dark was the only time these people could do what they had to do without being judged or thrown out of the cemetery? Why were you in the cemetery after dark, most of them close after dusk anyway? I am not saying either way, it is just good to put thought into some actions before carrying them out is all. Take care.

Answer 10

I believe you were right and wrong. I do understand your point of not wanting them damaging anything. As for the police citing them, police cite people wrongly every day. That is why there are courts, police have no authority to decide what the law is. If they did, this would be just another dictatorship