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Published - Friday, August 29, 2008

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Mannequin lady cited again


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A Winona, Minn., woman cited for taunting her neighbors with a scantily clad mannequin in her window Sunday attracted police attention again Tuesday, earning her another citation.

The neighbors of Gretchen Elaine Cook, 55, have a harassment restraining order against her that bars her from any contact with them. Cook was ticketed earlier this week for placing an undergarment-wearing mannequin with a sign reading “Peeping! Gene” in the window facing the neighbors’ house.
Officers were called back to the 100 block of West Mill Street about 3 p.m. Tuesday because Cook was talking to her neighbors’ 11-year-old son, who was in his backyard. Police said that was another violation of the restraining order and mailed her a second misdemeanor ticket.

Her neighbors said they have had long-standing tree and yard disputes with Cook, and they bought a security camera to watch over their backyard. That prompted Cook to call them “Peeping Toms” and started putting the mannequin in the window. The neighbors tried to “take the high road” and got a restraining order against her, they said.

Since the Winona Daily News first reported the feud, the mannequin has moved from its original perch. The neighbors said it has migrated to the front window so people driving by the house can see it. They said Cook lights it up at night.

It was unclear when Cook will appear in court to face her citations, according to Minnesota court records.
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unbelievable wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:13 PM:

" I think it is absolutely hilarious!!!! I have some neighbors that do nothing but watch out the window to see what everyone else is doing. This would be PERFECT. I wonder how long it would take them to figure it out...how funny. "

Richard Cranium wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:03 PM:

" To davidinlse: Krusty must have gotten another post pulled for swearing. He just can't shed that chip on his shoulder. "

carmenwi wrote on Aug 29, 2008 2:43 PM:

" The lady sounds like a fun neighbor if she had neighbors who were on the same wavelength. Maybe she should just stick w/ a leg lamp for the time being. "

Im Still Jackson wrote on Aug 29, 2008 1:22 PM:

" That it!!! Since George was stolen and whacked in Hokah and now this I think MN should outlaw all mannequins. "

what_that_too wrote on Aug 29, 2008 11:29 AM:

" It certainly is amazing how some people support the "Rule of Law" - but only when it matches THEIR point of view.

The term is "hypocrite" "

theblob wrote on Aug 29, 2008 11:07 AM:

" To 'what' and 'devon' posts, should the cops ignore the COURT ISSUED restraining order by JUDGE, maybe just maybe the cops are doing what laws make them do. I don't think all the details are in this short article. Hopefully you get to live by one of these 'artist' nutjobs someday, unless you already are one of them. "

theblob wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:54 AM:

" Wiseup your prior posts bash cops any chance you get and how would you know about 'no' good tickets. I can imagine what your arrest/tickets record looks like. If there is a violation of law, the cops 'job' is to ticket/arrest. It is the attorneys/judges/courts 'job' to do whatever is the results of tickets/arrest. If someone gets a break from judge/courts when driving 20mph over speed limit or blowing past stop sign, it is hardly a 'no' GOOD ticket. "

Katie wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:52 AM:

" Sounds like the woman is the one creating all the drama. If you have a restraining order against you it's best to just shut up and not bother those people. "

what_that_too wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:42 AM:

" Your PD at work - wasting time and money.

This woman needs a good constitutional Lawyer. This is clearly a Firts Amendment issue. "

theblob wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:42 AM:

" Lets see, you don't get 'enough attention' so you move it to FRONT window for people passing by and LIGHT it up. Devon go over there and ask the other 'normal' neighbors that you will buy their house since you like this abnormal behavior. I think the video camera was installed for proof of her warped behavior because of on going problems with her denials, as dumb people like you blame Winona PD for DOING THEIR JOB enforcing laws. Maybe they should wait for it to escalate to violence and then Devon can complain why didn't cops do something before this. "

wiseup wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:32 AM:

" Cops write lots of tickets that are NO GOOD. Dismissed or not guilty too many times! If I was this lady I would ask the judge about her constitutional rights to free speech and art in regards to the mannequin. Talking to the neighbor's kid after TRO is probably not a smart thing to do. Its BS about neighbor trying to take high road too. Watch the lady start calling cops on them for leaf littering! "

devon wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:28 AM:

" I like this lady!! Sounds to me like the neighbors that keep reporting her need to get a life! I have a couple of neighbors like them and they have nothing better to do than create drama. Get a life! PS. Why would the Winona P.D. even waste their time and tax payers money with this? Shouldnt' they be out there catching real criminals and real restraining order offenders? You go Gretchen! "

OnaRes wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:42 AM:

" Sounds like they need to take this woman in for a psych evaluation. CooKoo CooKoo. "

davidinlse wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:31 AM:

" RE: Krusty wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:27 AM: Why would the LaCrosse police be tracking a stolen mannequinin Hokah? Nice language. Grow up. "

Richard Cranium wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:08 AM:

" They should check to see if it's one of the stolen mannequins from Hokah. They could cite her for that too. "


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