A deer in Town of Ramapo, N.Y., was briefly detained after a caller reported "a masked suspect." Officers discovered an oversized plastic bag covering the deer's head, removed it, and the animal bolted back into the woods "on its own hoof." The police department posted video and joked that officers went into "deer-tective mode." The article also cites recent misidentifications, including a supposed mountain lion that was a neglected French bulldog and a roadside sighting that turned out to be a stuffed tiger.
Deer With Plastic Bag Over Its Head Mistaken for 'Masked Suspect' in New York
Town of Ramapo Police Department/Facebook (2)Deer mistaken for masked suspect
A deer in the Town of Ramapo, New York, was briefly in police custody after a concerned caller reported what they described as "a masked suspect roaming the area," according to the Town of Ramapo Police Department.
Officers who responded to the Dec. 28 call found not a person but a deer with an oversized plastic bag stuck over its head. The department shared a video on Facebook showing the animal lying in the snow with the bag covering its face. Responding officers approached cautiously; one officer gently removed the bag, and the deer immediately sprang to its feet and ran into nearby woods.
Town of Ramapo Police Department/FacebookDeer mistaken for masked suspect
"Officers sprang into deer-tective mode, removed the disguise, and released the suspect back into the wild on its own hoof," the police statement quipped. Authorities said the animal was only in their custody for a few seconds before it fled under its own power.
Other Recent Cases Of Mistaken Identity
Officials noted this incident is one of several recent examples in which animals or objects were misidentified. Earlier in December, California Wildlife Encounters responded to a report of a mountain lion seen in a drainage ditch near a Sacramento airport. Rescuer Ben Nuckolls told local outlet KCRA that he instead found a neglected French bulldog — about 6 months old and roughly 18 pounds. Because the pup lacked a microchip, it was transferred to the Bradshaw Animal Shelter for a mandatory stray hold. Authorities said mountain lions are common along the Sacramento River in that area, lending credibility to the original tip.
In May, a Good Samaritan in Colorado reported what they believed was an injured dog at the roadside. Animal Law Enforcement officers from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region discovered the object was actually a stuffed tiger — the kind won as a carnival prize — and secured it to avoid further confusion.
Video courtesy: Town of Ramapo Police Department/Facebook. Additional reporting referenced from People and local news outlets.
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