Halloween Decoration In Lansing Yard Appeared To Depict Lynching

LANSING, IL - A mannequin hanging from a tree on a street in Lansing caused quite a bit of controversy Wednesday morning as some say the display depicted a lynching. Several videos were shared on social media of what appeared to be a depiction of a black body hanging from a tree on someone's front lawn, but Lansing police have investigated the incident and determined that it was a Halloween decoration and that there was no racial intent.

"Our investigation into this incident revealed no malicious intent and that this was simply a Halloween decoration that had been vandalized," said Sergeant Jay Klausner of the Lansing Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division.

The display, which did not appear to include any other Halloween decorations in the yard, was first noticed by a T.F. South High School student walking to school in the morning, according to a report from the Times of Northwest Indiana.

Lansing police say they responded to the home in the 3300 block of North Schultz Drive, where the mannequin was found hanging suspended from the tree with a rope. Police said the homeowner told them there had been a "Jason-style" mask over the mannequin's head that had apparently been taken off, leaving only a black plastic bag above the body.

Several neighbors confirmed that the mannequin did originally have a Halloween mask, according to police.

But Mark Kuehner, of the Lansing Community Coalition, says the police response to the incident "does not add up."

"It's very believable that this is a hate crime given the climate we live in today filled with racial tension," he said.

Police say the decoration was taken down by the homeowner after they arrived.

A few Facebook Live videos were shared Wednesday morning just outside the home. Here's one that's been viewed more than 2,000 times as of 5 p.m.

Photo provided, used with permission