A Viral Michigan Lobster Story Had Me Calling Red Lobster for Answers

Did you see that story making the rounds on social media about a lobster that caused such a disturbance in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, that the police were called?

The Viral Story About a Michigan Lobster on the Loose

According to the internet, a lobster that just wanted a taste of freedom escaped from its tank at the Red Lobster in Dearborn Heights, triggering a motion alarm that alerted police and brought them to the scene.

The internet can be a great source of information. But when I come across stories like this, I approach them with a bit of skepticism. And it was a good thing that I did...

I came across this story on what appeared to be a reputable Facebook page, TCD Dearborn News. Or at least, it didn't appear to be satire because the page wasn't labeled as such.

I Called Red Lobster to Find Out What Really Happened

But I did my due diligence because this is my hometown, after all. I really needed to know if police had responded to a crustacean on the loose.

I called the Red Lobster location mentioned in the story and spoke to an employee about the alleged incident. He said nothing like that had taken place. Just to be sure, I asked if anything had triggered the motion alarm or given police a reason to respond to the location recently. The employee said no.

So, sadly, while this outlandish story may have seemed true, it isn't.

The Internet's Lobster Puns Are Still Worth a Laugh

However, we still win, because the comment section of that post is gold. Mike L. said, "He's gonna be in hot water." Magz N. said, "He figured the "coast" is clear, let me check out this scenic route."