People are WAY TOO PARANOID. It makes them CRAZY.
This is just one sad sad example of a) how people are way too paranoid and take no responsibility for their own actions and b) how even the police fall prey to actions that only a MOMENT of THOUGHT could avoid - like realizing the complaints are unfounded and show an innate stupidity in the complainer.
A similar thing happened to me this past fall when I was taking pictures at the Croton Dam in Northern Westchester County, NY, not far from the house where I grew up and my parents still live. While doing so I was approached by a very friendly Police Officer who said he had been asked to investigate reports of a "suspicious looking blond woman taking photos of the dam". What? "Do you mean Me?" I asked. Yes, he did. I laughed in disbelief. He then asked for my license which I told him was in my car. I was becoming concerned and one of my 'accomplices' (translate as 'fellow recreational photographer") stopped himself from interfering so that he wouldn't 'get me arrested' I later learned. The officer then asked if I would write down my name and address instead, which being in a good mood and KNOWING I was innocent of any sort of crime, I did. I now regret doing so as it WAS a violation of my own privacy and rights, but at the time I was just too surprised to react properly. It helped that one of my fellow photographers used to be a trial lawyer so I felt safe in the long run.
That was it. Sorry. Once I wrote my info down, which I could have made up but didn't, he went on his way and we parted with pleasantries. He was very nice and cordial the entire time, but it does not excuse the fact that some "paranoid idiot" thought to call the cops on me! Admittedly I was climbing around the dam to get decent angles and points of view, but I do not look like a terrorist unless 40 year old caucasian ladies with long blond hair and a Nikon camera look dangerous to you.
Here is one of the photos that got me in "trouble":
Finally!! It has several days since we put up our tree and set the star atop it. But the lights are always more problematic with bad bulbs and colors that don't light, etc. But tonight the deed is Done! I may tweak the light placement here and there and replace a few more bulbs though.
Well it has been a long and tiring week and I did not get the lights up on the tree yet :-( but that should happen torrow evening for Sure! (positive look) For now here is a pic of our very Bright Star!
O K. Well both 
