BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — A priest in Bay Village says someone called police to report a homeless person. Turns out, it was actually a statue of Jesus.
Within twenty minutes of the statue arriving, I was having a conversation with a very kind police officer because someone called to report a homeless man sleeping on a park bench. Within twenty minutes... https://t.co/kyD1vyEd4p — Alex Martin (@ADMartin86) October 12, 2020
The sculpture was created by Timothy Schmalz and depicts a man wrapped in a blanket and lying on a bench.
Within 20 minutes of the sculpture being installed at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, police were called, according to Alex Martin, the pastor at St. Barnabas. He tweeted that he spoke with an officer because someone reported a homeless person sleeping on a park bench.
According to the church's website, because Bay Village isn't impacted much by poverty, the statue is meant to remind residents how serious homelessness is in the world.
The temporary installment will be on display until Dec. 1.
The Bay Village Police Department issued the following statement regarding the incident.
The Bay Village Police Department received a call regarding a possible homeless person, laying under a tarp, on a bench by St. Barnabas church.
The residents of Bay Village are encouraged to contact the Police Department if they see or hear anything unusual. This is an example of the many different calls for service the Bay Village Police Department receives.
Had there been a person laying on a bench, our officers are trained first responders and would be able to assess the situation and take the appropriate action. Our officers are able to render first aid in a medical emergency or assist with securing emergency shelter.
Many of our officers are certified in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), which “creates connections between law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency services and individuals with mental illness and their families.”
We are pleased with the positive interaction our responding officer had with Fr. Alex Martin, the pastor at St. Barnabas. The City of Bay Village hopes that this will bring attention to homelessness and encourage our community members to help those in need.
The church is raising money to try and help the homeless.
Pastor Martin shared a link on Twitter to donate here.
craigcraig420 on October 16th, 2020 at 16:19 UTC »
“Umm excuse me! 911! I need armed men to come to my location immediately! There’s someone who can’t afford housing sleeping on a bench near me!”
rollitorbowlit on October 16th, 2020 at 15:23 UTC »
who tf calls the cops for someone sleeping on a bench
crimsonblade55 on October 16th, 2020 at 14:55 UTC »
So they built a statue to remind people that homelessness is a problem and that homeless people are people too and it gets called the police on. Honestly the title doesn't do this story justice as to how oniony it is.