Police officers responding to a disturbance call in Rutherglen were left deeply unsettled after witnessing what appeared to be paranormal phenomena inside the property they attended.
Officers Witness Unexplained Events
It had been a routine shift for the Police Scotland officers until the evening of August 8, 2016, took an eerie turn. After being called out to assist a mother and son, they were left startled when they witnessed clothing flying across a room and lights switching on and off.
When the lights came back on, the officers reported seeing lampshades suspended upside down and oven doors opening and closing by themselves. A chihuahua dog that had been playing in the garden was also found perched on top of a seven-foot hedge.
Family Distress and Police Response
The family residing at the South Lanarkshire property had contacted police in distress. They experienced two days of the strange events before vacating the premises.
At the time, the Daily Record revealed how the unsettling incident had been discussed at senior levels within the force, with high-ranking officers puzzled about how to address the occurrences.
A source told the Record at the time: "These were incidents that were witnessed by our own officers. Incidents that are not easily explained. One problem we've got is where we go from here as no crime has been established, so what else can we do but deal with any reports of disturbances."
But officers with more than 20 years' service are saying they've never seen anything like this. It really is something that down-to-earth police officers are having trouble getting their heads round. How do you handle what, despite us liking to use the word, has been described as a poltergeist.
Church Involvement and Ongoing Inquiry
The family at the centre of the drama are devoutly Catholic and police did seek assistance from the church. A priest was dispatched to the Stonelaw Road property and carried out what has been described as a 'blessing' for the house.
The occupant of the home, a woman, together with her teenage child, contacted police after they started experiencing the disturbing events. They were described as being extremely distressed, having endured violent and inexplicable circumstances. In sheer desperation, they reached out to police.
The source added: "The officers attended expecting it to be a mental health issue but they witnessed the lights going off, clothes flying across the room and the dog sitting on top of the hedge. The officers called their superiors who also attended thinking the cops were perhaps being a bit silly but it's being taken very seriously."
The fact it was witnessed by our officers has lent itself to a very different but active inquiry.
Family Relocates and Support Offered
Nobody was injured, although the bewildered officers provided safety guidance to the family, who decided to vacate the property. It is understood they relocated to stay with relatives.
The source said: "The main concern is with the family's welfare and well-being but with no crime committed and no culprit we are at a loss how to proceed with it. Inquiries are ongoing but it's difficult to know where to go with it."
Officers subsequently examined the family's background and worked alongside doctors and social services to offer support. They also looked into the property's history to determine whether previous occupants had reported similar incidents.
Our source said all options were being considered by way of explaining the goings-on: "Is it some form of hoax, or is it real or not real? These are the questions being asked by officers but without coming to any conclusion."
A Police Scotland statement issued at the time confirmed: "On 8 and 9 August police attended a house in Rutherglen to reports of a disturbance. No evidence of criminality was found and advice and guidance was given to the family."
