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Wally the Green Monster Safe After ‘Miscommunication’
Red Sox Nation received a scare today after a Fenway Park security officer reported Wally the Green Monster missing on Friday afternoon, launching the city into a bit of a panic over “Where’s Wally?” on social media.
At about 4:10pm, Boston Police provided this release:
At about 2:22pm, officers from District D-4 (South End) responded to a call at Dartmouth Street and Boylston Street.
Officers were advised that the costume of Wally the Green Monster (The Boston Red Sox mascot) was stolen and last scene in the area of Boylston Street and Fairfield heading towards downtown.
It was later revealed to officers that an employee took the costume and neglected to inform the proper supervisor. There is no one under arrest and Wally the Green Monster is safe.
Later, the BPD released a more “lighthearted” police report:
At approximately 2:19pm, officers responded to a radio call at Fenway Park located at 24 Yawkey Way, Boston. While en-route District 4 officers were informed by operations an unknown person took the “ Wally the Green Monster” team mascot costume.
The witness, an employee, stated the costumes, being worn by an unknown person and was last seen in the area of Boylston Street and Dartmouth Street in the Back Bay. The costume was described as being green and furry, wearing a blue ball cap, white jersey with “97″ on the back, blue shorts and a sporting a permanent grin to the face on an extremely large head.
Officers immediately canvassed the area in an attempt to locate the monster to prevent further escape as well as any possible injury to innocent by-standers or the monster himself. The monster is well known to police and is usually friendly in the monster’s habitat of Fenway Park. Officers checked any and all establishments the monster is known to frequent.
A short time later, officers were informed by detectives the monster was located and was in the custody of an authorized Red Sox employee. No arrests have been made the case is closed.
Twitter and other social media were bombarded with tweets and posts over the “kidnapping,” making front page news on both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald websites. There were reports of helicopters flying over the Back Bay, and Boston Police and MBTA Transit Police tweeted for help looking for the “suspect.”
Missing: Wally the Green Monster, If seen please call Boston Police
If you see ‘Wally the Green Monster,’ Say Something with the
#MBTA See/Say app: http://bit.ly/MpRNx9
Others piled on with the jokes, suggesting Wally wasn’t happy with the Red Sox’ disappointing record (49-50):
RT
@BostonHurricane: helicopters over back bay? // OMG, is Wally threatening to jump from the Mass. Ave. bridge?RT
@superguppy: Green Alert for missing Wally. Have the message boards on the Pike been activated, he could be headed to the Bronx.
@alertnewengland@AndreaWBZ I am laughing so hard! I can picture him sittin on the T with a paper in front of him so no one recognizesHere’s the latest Wally The Green Monster ransom note: http://pic.twitter.com/GRebjCUQ
At 3:40pm, Boston Police said an employee may have taken the costume:
Boston Police now stating it’s a Red Sox employee who took Wally.
#savewally
At 3:55pm, Boston Police ended its monsterhunt, and tweeted that Wally had been found:
Update: Wally the Green Monster has been found.
There is no word yet on whether the news of Wally’s close call had made it to the Red Sox, who open a three-game series in the Bronx tonight against the rival New York Yankees. Also, there was no word as to whether the whole incident was a public relations ploy.