Man in custody after Merrill police say he took bras from displa - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

The Merrill Police Chief says one man has been arrested on disorderly conduct charges after officers received a report that he was taking bras from the "Bras Across the Bridge" display.

The chief says the call came in around two o'clock in the morning and when officers tracked down the suspect, they could see bras hanging from the trunk of his vehicle.

Authorities say the man had a large number of the bras in his possession. They had been hung on the downtown bridge to promote breast cancer awareness and the "Relay for Life" event in Merrill this week.

Organizers of the "Bras Across the Bridge" project did not want to comment on the incident, but one woman who arrived early Tuesday morning to help re-string the bras said she was very disappointed.

Organizers told Newsline 9 they plan to use a lift Tuesday night to string up the display high above the bridge. They say strong winds had brought some of the lines down that were hung on Sunday, making them easy to reach from the bridge.

The Merrill Police Chief says he's disappointed the display was tampered with, and is working with organizers to make sure the display is not in reach of pedestrians.