'Pokemon Go' players disrupting people paying respects at Charlotte cemetery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — “Pokemon Go” players have made their way into hospitals and fire stations, and now the game is taking them to cemeteries.

Channel 9 anchor Blaine Tolison found out some gamers have become a nuisance to those paying their respects.

Eddie Busch is a regular in the Elmwood Cemetery. He walks his dog and plays on the popular app “Pokemon Go.”

He said he enjoys spending time in the 163-year-old cemetery in uptown.

"It's kind of a peaceful place to walk around really,” Busch said.

But city workers told Tolison that on some days, dozens of cars drive through the cemetery, visiting more than 40 Pokemon sites.

They said the traffic can disrupt funerals.

They also worry the increased visits could lead to damage and trash left behind, although they have not received any complaints.

"I can understand it if people are kind of parking and driving around while people are kind of doing service. I could understand why that would be a little more difficult to kind of respect and understand,” Busch said.

Tolison checked the “Pokemon Go” app and found it takes players to headstones, monuments and mausoleums throughout the area.

It even tells you what they're called, which is why some say it's a good way for people to get to know this historic cemetery.

Tolison found 9-year-old Josh Munn and his mom roaming the cemetery in search of Pokemon, but he said he's also learning something.

"You can read different things and figure out what's been happening here in the history of the cemetery and stuff,” Munn said.

The app does warn players to be aware of their surroundings.

This week, a 9 investigation found there are far worse places to find Pokemon -- in front of sex offenders' homes.

When Channel 9 contacted the app's manufacturer about those locations, they did not respond.

Users say the cemetery may in fact be among the safest places to play.

"Does it scare you to be in a cemetery at all?" Tolison asked.

"No, not really. I mean, it's kind of different; but I don't really care,” Munn said.

Workers said they can't keep people out of the Elmwood Cemetery because it is open to the public, but they hope Pokemon players will remain respectful.

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