Elaborate squirt-gun game has teens competing and running naked in Milwaukee's suburbs

It's all fun and games until someone gets fined $565.

That's what happened in South Milwaukee last week when police arrested two "inappropriately clothed" teenagers playing a squirt-gun game that's become a springtime trend among suburban high school students here and nationwide.

The game features teams strategizing to shoot opponents in public or avoid being shot, in hopes of advancing through a March Madness-style bracket and winning a pooled cash prize. Players are usually immune while inside their homes or at school or work.

Or while not wearing clothes.

That's where law enforcement has gotten involved.

Police have also expressed more serious concerns about safety, considering the teenagers' zeal for ambushing or fleeing each other.

"Some kids are playing while in their cars, causing traffic hazards and driving recklessly," said South Milwaukee Police Chief Ann Wellens.

Reports of the game being played in suburbs nationwide go back at least five years. Brookfield Police got involved when their local students were playing it in 2013. 

Last week, the South Milwaukee School District urged parents to talk to their children about playing the game safely and respectfully, noting that the otherwise socially engaging activity could also have a dangerous element.

"While students did play the game in the past, it wasn't until this year that we received (parent and staff) questions regarding it," South Milwaukee High School Principal Beth Kaminski said by email.

Her earlier note was posted on May 16 to a Twitter feed of game updates, presumably run by a student.

Two days later on May 18, South Milwaukee police arrested two teenagers playing the game. A 17-year-old was cited for disorderly conduct, a $439 fine, and a 15-year-old was cited for lewd and lascivious behavior, a $565 fine, according to police.

That prompted an end to the South Milwaukee Paranoia game, according to the feed.

But the game appears to be going strong in other south side suburbs.

A Twitter feed called @CudahyParanoia referred to players advancing to a championship round last week. Cudahy Police Lt. Joe Zblewski said Tuesday that his department had not responded to any complaints about the game.

There's also a Twitter feed for game updates from Franklin.

A post Monday called for the start of a third round.

Franklin Police Officer Scott Poprocki warned parents in a statement that children could be subject to arrest for running through neighborhoods naked, reckless driving or other suspicious activity as circumstances dictate, according to a May 20 post on a Facebook page for Franklin neighbors.

He encouraged parents to help their children make good decisions.