JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Talk Of A Dead Body Near Jordan Pond On Fourth Of July...

Photos By John Hoff, Content Was Censored By Police Officer Acting Under Color Of Law

Yesterday, in the course of wholesome family celebrations near the Jordan Pond, there was a bizarre incident way the heck on the other side of the pond, involving rumors of a dead body in a house.

It went down like this...

Jordan Neighborhood Chairman Kip Browne was walking around the pond with yours truly, discussing issues in the Jordan Neighborhood, when an agitated and shirtless man ran up (see top photo) and announced there was a DEAD BODY IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR and he could smell the body. So he had called the police ABOUT THE DEAD BODY.

So Kip and I thought, well, we need to see how THIS turns out. We walked around to the front of the house, only to be greeted by the sight of an agitated, shirtless man being cuffed by the police. (See middle photo) It was, however, a different guy. In fact, you can see the first guy standing in the photo, explaining something to the police officer.

The way things seemed to go down, it appeared the house where the dead body supposedly resided (to the degree a dead body can "reside") had the front door broken open, somehow. Huh. Who would do that?

An ambulance and a paramedic unit were uselessly called to the scene, then were seen to depart. Though there were reports of a "bad smell" at the house next door, apparently no dead body was present. In fact, it appeared an agitated individual at the scene was the main focus of the police, not the original complaint called in to 911.

The entire incident was just bizarre and then, to top it all off, one of the police officers approached and demanded that I delete any photo on my camera which may show a minor. I didn't really feel like arguing about freedom of the press and the fact I was standing on a public street. I was, like, whatever. You want to see the pictures in my camera? Here, I'll show them to you. You want one of the pictures deleted? OK, let's delete that one. Whatever, because it's not that good a photo anyway and I don't have time for this argument.

I had already informed the officer I was a blogger. So it's all good. He was working hard dealing with weird, half-crazy people and I'll get my final say in the blogosphere. Here's my final say:

What is this, COMMUNIST CHINA? Since when do police walk up to journalists and demand they delete pictures on their camera, and on the (EXPLETIVE) FOURTH OF JULY?

I love the Fourth Precinct, and I'll say as I always do: GOD BLESS THE FOURTH PRECINCT but I will make the record, here.

Don't. Do. That.

ADDENDUM: Turns out there really was a dead body at the house, but the arrested guy had kicked in the door and burglarized the house. See follow up story.