The 13 Most Ridiculous Real-Life Costumed Criminals

In November 2009, Spider-Man impersonator Christopher Loomis was arrested after allegedly slugging a tourist on Hollywood Boulevard. While the cause of the Spidey’s fist-slinging (as opposed to the usual web-slinging) has yet to be determined, this wouldn’t be the first (or last) street performer-tourist brawl to take place on the famed strip; Hollywood Boulevard’s characters have been rumored for some time now to get “abusive” when passersby refuse to pay for posed photos.

In what might win the award for "Ironic Arrest of the Year," 19-year-old Matthew Nieveen of Nebraska was seized by cops last November after he was found drunk driving—in a breathalyzer outfit. According to the arresting officer, the offender was more than twice over the legal BAC limit. No word though on whether he blew himself in attempts to prove his sobriety.

Fellas, what’s cooler than being cool? For starters, probably not being arrested in a polar bear outfit, like Tom Wetterer, who was decked out for a 2008 Greenpeace protest outside the Department of Interior. Sounded like the guy was pretty much chilling in a paddleboat outside with a few signs, but hey, polar bears can be vicious creatures. Perhaps that’s why the Bush Administration was dragging their feet when it came to covering them under the Endangered Species Act, sparking the whole incident in the first place. Ice cold.

Sometimes, as a street performer, it's best to just get the hell out of people's way. Last week, a man dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants on Hollywood Boulevard allegedly got too close to two teenage girls while working tourists for money. Words were exchanged and the big foamie exchanged a series of comical punches with the young ladies. Though he wasn't ultimately arrested, and neither side pressed charges, police detained this sad dude while people filmed it and snapped photos. Apparently unmasking the guy who dresses up as SpongeBob for a living was punishment enough.

This past August, Idaho Falls resident William Falkingham was investigated by police after they received numerous complaints that he was scaring neighbors' children in his creepy bunny costume. (One of the more recent reports included Falkingham hiding behind a tree and pointing his finger at a resident’s young son like a gun.) After a firm request from coppers to hang up the suit for good (he sometimes alternated between a tutu or cowboy attire), the 35-year-old expressed that he understood his neighbor’s concerns.

You might be able to mess with Mickey, but don’t even think about screwing with his money. In 2008, a 32-man crusade of Disney’s finest was hauled away in cuffs after a labor protest went down at the Happiest Place on Earth. Among Walt’s normally 2-D demonstrators were Tinkerbell, Cinderella, and Mr. Mouse himself, who marched from three respective Disney hotels to the gates of the Disneyland park—and into police custody. Bitch-made Pluto was notably absent.

Despite her impressive ability to evade death, Snow White, too, couldn’t escape the firm hand of the law that fateful day.

Once upon a time, about a month before Halloween of 2008, an Idaho woman by the name of Michele Allen decided to get drunk. So drunk, in fact, that the following events resulted in one of the greatest mugshots of all time. Prior to achieving police photo infamy, however, she was just another weird lady in a cow costume…chasing children around the neighborhood…urinating on someone’s porch…and ultimately, blocking traffic. And no one could have that.

In August 2010, Port Angeles police responded to reports of a dude in a banana outfit flashing women at a local Wendy’s. (With a name like Carlton, this was on some fucked-up rich kid shit, no doubt.) After successfully creeping out lady diners merely trying to enjoy their fried chicken salads, the 21-year-old banana decided to take his show on the road, freaking out pedestrians by pointing a shotgun out of his car window. While scary, we're sure it was a nice change from his penis. Thankfully, both were willing to surrender and cooperate when the police arrived on the scene.

One might say The Force was strong in Frederick Evan Young of Los Angeles, Calif.: In February of 2007, the Chewbacca the Wookie impersonator was arrested for using it unwisely on a tour guide in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. The two apparently got into an altercation after the guide expressed concern that Star Wars’ furriest cast member was “harassing and touching tourists” inappropriately. What better a way to dispute your accuser’s charges than by head-butting him in front of dozens of witnesses?

We always knew there was something evil brewing beneath that cuddly exterior. It seems that, as of 2008, the not-to-be-fucked-with bear has made the switch from robbing bees of their honey to robbing civilians of their money. Tokyo police arrested the costume-clad Masayuki Ishikawa for attacking two passersby because—why else?—they looked at him the wrong way. After the perpetrator asked the two why they were staring at him, he and his fellow thugs (who lamely weren’t dressed up as Eeyore and co.) proceeded to beat the guys senseless before taking off with their $160. Oh bother.

Though Eddie Murphy’s Gumby was pretty classic, we have to admit that he might’ve recently been upstaged by a newcomer. Just two weeks ago, a wannabe robber made headlines for his botched attempt to rob a 7-Eleven in San Diego. In fact, not only did the green man (who revealed himself later as Jason Kiss) not make off with any cash—he accidentally gave money to the clerk as he attempted to draw "a gun" from his pocket with his awkward Gumby mitt and instead wound up dropping 26 cents in change on the floor. Now that's rough.