A 34-year-old woman in Midland, Michigan was discovered living inside a sign on the roof of a grocery store, which she claimed was an “old safe spot” known to her family. She did not explain why she had chosen to stay there for a year. Concerned about her possessions, she requested time to call her employer and get a truck to put her belongings in storage, but the police informed her that the store staff would remove her possessions and return them to her. The woman had a coffee maker, computer, bedding, and phone in her makeshift living space, which impressed the officers who discovered her. She mentioned that she knew how to survive the winter due to her experience in Alaska.
The Associated Press and other news media reported the discovery on April 23, and a police body camera video of the encounter was obtained by MLive.com under a public records request. Portions of the video were posted online, showing officers interacting with the woman who was living in the sign on the roof of the Family Fare store in Midland, 130 miles north of Detroit. During the encounter, the officers noted that some people apparently knew about the woman’s living situation, as she had acquired a nickname. However, she indicated that the location was not well known to most people in Midland, but that was no longer the case.
When the officers questioned the woman about how she got on the roof, she did not provide a clear answer. She emerged from the sign wearing black clothing and ski goggles on her head, explaining that she was sensitive to sunlight. The woman’s reasoning for choosing to live in such a unique location remains unclear, but she seemed well-prepared with necessary items for survival. The officers were surprised by the woman’s living conditions and inquired how she had managed to survive the winter in her attic-like space within the sign.
Despite the woman’s request for time to make arrangements for her belongings, the officers did not grant her request and informed her that the store staff would remove her possessions and return them to her. It is unclear how she intended to retrieve her belongings or where she planned to go after being asked to leave the sign. The unusual living situation garnered attention from the public and media, with many curious about the woman’s motivation for staying in such a confined and unconventional space for an extended period of time. The police encounter with the woman living in the sign on the roof of the grocery store highlighted the unique circumstances and challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness or living in unconventional conditions.
