DENTON, Md. - A small post office in Caroline County is dealing with an unusual and unsettling issue — repeated instances of someone urinating inside its lobby.
At least three printed signs now hang on the walls of the Denton Post Office, reading: “Stop urinating in here! Go outside!”
“My first reaction was, I can’t believe anybody would do that,” said local resident Lyn Higdon. “Unless you’re a child with a pamper, there’s no excuse.”
Denton police said they were first called to the post office last month after urine was found on the floor. Since then, the incident has reportedly happened three or four more times.
The lobby is open 24 hours a day for customers with P.O. boxes.
“We’ve talked with the post office about increasing patrols," said Lt. Jamie Secrist of the Denton Police Department.
However, since the signs went up, there haven’t been any new reports.
“I don’t believe it’s continuing to happen,” Secrist said. “We haven’t had any recent reports.”
Many in the town were shocked when they saw the signs.
“It makes you scratch your head and wonder what people are thinking about,” said Denton resident Bobby Love.
“People are angry. People want something done about policing, cleaning, monitoring that space — so that embarrassment does not continue to go viral and turn off the people in this area,” added Chad Dean, another Denton resident.
Police say they’ve also suggested installing security cameras inside the lobby. Residents hope the signs — and increased attention — will bring an end to the problem.