When it comes to Halloween yard displays, how much is too much? One man in Sequoyah County was asked to take down a portion of his decorations after authorities said it was called offensive.
Daryl Jones was forced to take down a display of several baby dolls hanging from his tree after passersby allegedly told authorities they found the display offensive, reports the Sequoyah County Times.
Jones says the Sallisaw code enforcement officials told him to take down the display he’s had up on Halloween for years.
“I have this every year, people stopping by and people wanting to bring their kids. I’ve been doing this for six years and there’s never been a complaint,” Jones told the Sequoyah County Times.
According to Jones, the city’s ordinance does not make sense. He said he doesn’t understand how someone could just drive by a house and deem something offensive and force the homeowner to take it down.
“Last year I handed out 500 bags of candy. The kids usually go to Elm Street, the churches, then by here. I don’t do this for the community, I do this for fun, for the kids. I eat all the cost,” Jones told the Sequoyah County Times. “I’ve been a foster parent for the past 17 years. That’s one of the reasons I do it. I’m waiting for more stuff to come in (to decorate). I spent almost $500 in decorations this year. I’m thinking of bumping it up to 600 bags of candy. It’s not like this is a permanent thing.
According to the Sequoyah County Times, code enforcement officials claimed they were not allowed to comment on the situation. But city attorney John Robert Montgomery said the offense falls under the ordinance listed below.
It’s labeled as “Disturbing the Peace” and says “It is unlawful to disturb or alarm the peace of another or others by doing any of the acts set out in subsection (b) of this section. (b) Disturbing the peace is the doing of any of the following in such a manner as would foreseeably alarm others or create an immediate breach of the peace: (1) Using obscene, offensive, abusive, profane, vulgar, threatening, violent or insulting language or conduct; or (2) Committing any other act in such a manner as to unreasonably disturb or alarm the public. “
