Caledonia police issue "heads up" as new Pokemon GO mobile game grows in popularity
CALEDONIA -- The Caledonia Police Department has issued a "heads up" following the release of a popular new game for mobile devices.
Pokemon GO was released on Wednesday, July 6th -- and is a "real world adventure game" for iPhone and Android devices.
According to the website for the game, Pokemon GO uses real locations -- and players are encouraged to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokemon.
You can "catch" more than 100 species of Pokemon as you explore your surroundings.
Players are encouraged to explore the area where they live, and capture as many Pokemon as they can, and look for "PokeStops" located at popular places, like public art installations, historical markers and monuments.
Caledonia police posted to Facebook on Friday, July 8th a heads up, as more and more people begin playing this game.
Police said this in the Facebook post:
"There is a new app/game for Apple and Android phones called Pokemon GO. In this game, people that have the app have to get out of their houses and actually enjoy the summer by searching for and training their Pokemons.
The images show what they see on their device. They then go to public places and play the game. I have reliable information the hall in Franksville Park is a training area and the totem pole by the Kids Connection has either a Squirtle, Snorlax or a Rhyhorn.
Because these people have to be in public places to play the game, you may see people in the parks or along roads staring down at their phones instead of paying attention to their surroundings. Not like that doesn't happen already.
Remember, Caledonia Parks close at sundown and County Parks, such as Cliffside are open until 10:00 p.m."
The heads up from Caledonia police came on the same day a Wyoming girl found a body floating in a river while she was trying to catch a miniature monster in the mobile game, officials confirmed.
County 10 in Wyoming reports Shayla Wiggins went to a natural water source in order to catch a water-type Pokemon, which is when she saw a body floating a few feet from the shore of the Wind River.
"I was walking towards the bridge along the shore when I saw something in the water," Wiggins told County 10. "I had to take a second look and I realized it was a body."
Detectives reportedly told Wiggins the body had been there less than 24 hours.
In a follow up story, County 10 reports Fremont County Sheriff's Office personnel stated they don't suspect foul play.
A Riverton Police Department spokesperson confirmed that the teenage girl discovered a body in the river while playing Pokemon GO, but didn't give any additional details.
Australian police issued a warning about the game the day after it came out.
In a Facebook post, the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services asked players not to go hunting inside the station, saying that they merely need to be close to the building to collect their goodies.
As you walk through the world, Pokemon GO uses your phone's GPS to alert you when you're close to a creature. When you turn on the camera, the Pokémon appears overlaid on whatever your phone sees, and players can flick Pokeballs with their fingers to capture them.
While most Pokemon diehards were delighted about the launch of this new game, some said they're worried about what their surroundings will say about their Pokemon chasing behavior.
Others are worried about the game bringing them to dangerous places.
The game includes a warning asking people to be aware of their surroundings, while Australian police asked players to look up from their phones when they cross the street.
The game is a cooperation between Niantic, Inc., Nintendo, and The Pokemon Company.
"For the first time, with this game, Pokemon are going to roam free in the real world," John Hanke, CEO of Niantic said.
"Pokemon GO will allow players to capture Pokemon who inhabit parks, shopping areas, sidewalks, and the countryside in places all around the world," Hanke added.
Hanke also hinted that popular Pokemon like Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Pikachu are hiding by popular spots like the waterfront in San Francisco.