Christmas criminal apprehended at local tree lighting

MARQUETTE — It was quite the debacle at the Westwood Mall this evening after a suspect was arrested for trying to steal Christmas. Thankfully, the mean, green creature was apprehended quickly with no incident.

This isn’t the first time the infamous Grinch has shown up to the Marquette Township tree lighting ceremony and tried to steal Christmas from the locals. Deputies from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department had arrested the Grinch last year, but he ended up escaping.

Anticipating his arrival tonight, deputies were on scene and ready for him to make an appearance.

“The last couple of years he’s kind of snuck up on the crowd and tried to steal Christmas,” said Marquette Township Manager, Randy Girard. “The Sheriff’s Department is here and they don’t like criminal activity so they hauled him away a couple of times, but he keeps escaping and trying to come back.

“He put up a little bit of a struggle and some of the kids were terrified of him and some were really mesmerized by him,” said Marquette County Undersheriff Mike Klein. “You get a little bit of both and everything in the middle, but overall I think the crowd and the kids especially were very happy we took him away.”

Once the Grinch was safely taken into custody, the Marquette Township Fire Department dropped Santa Clause off to meet with all the kids in attendance. Santa and the crowd moved inside the mall for some popcorn and hot cocoa after they lit the tree.