Police: Fights, Illegal Fireworks and Indecent Exposure in Clawson on July 4

Clawson police responded to dozens of reports of illegal fireworks on July 4, made two arrests and are searching for three women who urinated in someone's yard.

Chief Harry Anderson said officers spent much of the holiday educating the public on Clawson's ordinance that prohibits the sale, possession, control, or discharge of consumer-grade fireworks — which include firecrackers, bottle rockets and roman candles. (See PDF for Anderson's letter about the ordinance)

"There was a lot of confusion," Anderson said. "A lot of people didn’t realize that it was illegal."

Though there were several reports of illegal fireworks, police only issued one citation on Wednesday. That citation was issued to a chronic violator who was aware of the city's ordinance, Anderson said. Police did not penalize residents who didn't have knowledge of the ordinance.

Anderson said the fireworks ordinance is tough to enforce because officers have to witness the illegal fireworks in order to issue a citation.

"Officers say it's becoming quite common for people to launch a series of them and then stop for a period of time," Anderson said.

The ordinance violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to 180 days of imprisonment.

The city does allow "Low Impact Fireworks" that don't explode or fly in the air such as sparklers, fountains, snakes, poppers.

Arrests

Meanwhile, Anderson said there were a few fights reported in Clawson on July 4 but most of them ended before police could get to the scene. Officers did arrest one juvenile who was involved in a fight and was carrying an airsoft gun. He was later released to his parents, police say.

"On a hot day, it's either people are worn out, or frustrated and aggravated and getting into a lot of problems," Anderson said

There was one other arrest for someone with a suspended license and several warrants, Anderson said.

Women urinate in yard

A resident on the 300 block of Hendrickson told police three women who appeared to be in their 30s pulled their pants down and urinated in his backyard around 11 p.m. Wednesday. A police report says the women fled eastbound on Hendrickson and were last seen near Rochester Road.