In one of the most bizarre chapters of funny local news 2026, authorities in Stoughton, Wisconsin, have successfully capped a weeks-long investigation into a messy situation that had local residents holding their noses. The Stoughton Police Department utilized high-tech aerial surveillance to track down and cite a Stoughton serial pooper who had been terrorizing a public park with early morning deposits. The suspect, a 46-year-old local woman, was caught in the act by a police drone, bringing a swift end to a mystery that had baffled the community.
The Mystery of the 'Early Morning Deposits'
For weeks, visitors to a popular Stoughton park were greeted not by the fresh scent of pine, but by a far more unpleasant odor. Residents began flooding the police department with complaints about finding piles of human feces and discarded toilet paper scattered along a specific walking path. Initially, officers dismissed the reports as isolated incidents—perhaps a dog owner who forgot their bags or a one-time emergency.
However, the sheer volume of complaints made it clear that this was no accident. Lt. Chad O’Neil of the Stoughton Police Department explained the escalation to local reporters. "When we first learned of it, we thought it was going to be isolated," O'Neil stated. "But then with neighbors and users of the park continuing to call us to complain about it, I realized that it wasn't going away." The department knew they were dealing with a dedicated Stoughton park pooper.
High-Tech Surveillance: Operation Drop Zone
To catch the culprit, police had to get creative. They started by installing trail cameras along the affected walking path. The footage revealed a disturbing pattern: the same individual was returning to the scene of the crime like clockwork during the early morning hours. With a timeline established, authorities decided to take their surveillance to the skies, employing Wisconsin drone police tactics usually reserved for fleeing felons or search-and-rescue missions.
On the morning of February 5, 2026, a trained drone operator piloted a unit over the park. Sure enough, the camera spotted the suspect engaging in the act. "The drone operator was able to observe the subject actively defecating in the park," the police report confirmed. Officers on the ground moved in, catching the woman red-handed—or perhaps, brown-handed—before she could leave the scene.
A Baffling Explanation for Weird Crime Stories
When confronted, the 46-year-old woman offered an explanation that left officers scratching their heads. She allegedly told police that she relieved herself in the park due to a "personal pattern" requiring her to use the bathroom at that specific time and location. The specificity of her routine turned what could have been a random act of indecency into one of the year's most weird crime stories.
Contrary to initial public speculation, police clarified that the woman is not homeless and does not appear to suffer from mental health issues. She is a resident of Stoughton with access to indoor plumbing, making her choice to utilize the public park as a latrine all the more perplexing. She was subsequently issued a citation for indecent conduct, adding a new entry to the annals of hilarious police citations.
Community Reaction and Viral Fame
The Stoughton Police Department's social media announcement, bluntly titled "SPD uses drone to arrest serial defecator in city park," immediately went viral. The use of drone surveillance Wisconsin taxpayers funded to catch a public defecator sparked a mix of outrage, amusement, and relief among locals. While some questioned the use of resources, most were just relieved the "Code Brown" situation was finally resolved.
As the story spreads across national news outlets, it serves as a strange reminder that in the age of modern technology, someone is always watching—especially if you decide to do your business in a public park. For the residents of Stoughton, the walking path is safe once again, though it may take some time for the memory of the Stoughton serial pooper to wash away.
