Hollywood Boulevard Spider-Man Arrested
bodyheat_la
Hot on the topic of super heroes hangin' out in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre
on Hollywood Blvd. comes this timely story:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/spidey-senses-arrest-of-spiderman.html
Hope Superman's record is clean!
Your Friendly WeHo Spider-Man (and NO, it was not me!)
HOLLYWOOD SPIDER-MAN IMPERSONATOR CAUGHT IN LEGAL WEB
A Spider-Man impersonator was arrested on outstanding criminal warrants today
after an incident in which he allegedly slugged a man near the Hollywood and
Highland complex, Los Angeles police said.
It was not immediately clear what led to the altercation, which was reported
about 12:30 p.m. in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard. But it's the latest
in a string of incidents involving movie characters and celebrity lookalikes who
vie for space -- and attention -- along the tourist-filled corridor that
includes Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Christopher Loomis, 39, was being held on outstanding misdemeanor warrants in
lieu of $5,500 bail, police said.
The incident unfolded when LAPD patrol officers received a radio call reporting
a battery by a man in a Spider-Man costume. When they arrived, they encountered
four different people dressed as the web-slinging crusader.
"They stopped one, it wasn't him," LAPD Lt. Beverly Lewis said. "They stopped
the second, and it was the suspect."
The victim, who said he was hit in the face and arms, refused to press charges
against the costumed impersonator. But Lewis said that when they discovered the
warrants, he was booked. She said it appeared the suspect and victim knew each
other.
Costumed impersonators portraying the likes of Elvis, Superman, SpongeBob
SquarePants and others have worked on Hollywood Boulevard for years. They
collect tips from tourists by posing for pictures or performing in front of the
theater.
But sometimes the fun has turned violent. Tourists have complained that some
costumed characters turn abusive when the tourists refuse to pay them to pose
for pictures. And there have also been brawls. Two years ago, authorities
convened a "super-hero summit" designed to reduce tensions among the performers.
The meeting was prompted in part by an incident in which LAPD officers arrested
a "Star Wars" street performer in his furry brown Chewbacca costume for
allegedly head-butting a tour guide who complained about the character's
treatment of Japanese tourists.
In other incidents, actors dressed as the superhero Mr. Incredible, Elmo the
Muppet and
the dark-hooded character from the movie "Scream" were arrested for aggressive
begging. A man dressed as the horror film character Freddy Krueger was also
taken into custody for allegedly stabbing someone, although no charges were
filed.
"Typical Hollywood; it's always something different," said the LAPD's Lewis.
Loomis, still wearing his Spider-Man outfit, sat nearby, handcuffed to a bench
in the Hollywood Station.
--Andrew Blankstein
Photo: Spiderman impersonator is taken into custody Wednesday afternoon for
outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times
Comments from readers:
But how do they really know for sure it was an impersonator? It could have been
the real Spiderman/Peter Parker just giving out a false name or alias to avoid
embarrassment.
Posted by: Marcos El Malo | November 11, 2009 at 06:00 PM
I'll be the first to ask - with that mask, how do the police know they have the
right guy? ;-)
Posted by: Lee B. | November 11, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Poor Tobey Maguire - it's sad to see him fall so low. I was really starting to
enjoy his movies. Such is the fast lane on the Hollywood Strip.
Posted by: Charles Vought | November 11, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Great Ceasars Ghost!
No wait, wrong editor. Good pix Parker! Where else would you get not one, but
four Spidermen? Uncle Ben be Avenged!
Posted by: Nancy Wilson | November 11, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Does the LAPD normally let offenders keep their masks on during an arrest?
Posted by: DanR | November 11, 2009 at 06:32 PM
God do I miss L.A....not!
Posted by: alwaysatrojan84 | November 11, 2009 at 06:36 PM
A$5500 bail (most likely a jaywalking ticket or smoking close to a door) and the
arrest & booking will cost the taxpayers $400....INSANE!
Posted by: August | November 11, 2009 at 06:41 PM
This is going to kill Aunt May.
Posted by: MikeOHara | November 11, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Why is this front page news?
Posted by: Jason Lee | November 11, 2009 at 06:57 PM
That one girl in the pic looks like emma watson
Posted by: david | November 11, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Haha, I've recently been reading old Spider-Man comics from the 1970's and was
shocked and amused to find that for years Spider-Man had several outstanding
warrants to his name in connection with the mysterious deaths of several
characters, and he always resisted arrest and eluded the cops, oftentimes by
force that would have to be serious if performed by someone with super strength.
I would hope that if a REAL Spider-Man superhero existed he'd submit to cops as
easily as this guy did, and let the process handle itself. Let the judge decide
if he's worth having back out on the streets, and stop giving J. Jonah Jameson
more ammunition!
Posted by: Old ads in Spider-Man Comics! | November 11, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Get out of that one, Spidey!
Posted by: JB | November 11, 2009 at 07:18 PM
look at the kid's face - why are you arresting spider man?
Posted by: Fred | November 11, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Isn't it strange that they arrest someone disguised in a costume and then leave
their mask on?
Posted by: Mike | November 11, 2009 at 07:23 PM
why spidey... WHY!
Posted by: jeff bling | November 11, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Elmo the Muppet, Mr. Incredible and The Hooded Guy from "Scream" aggressive
begging this truly could only be found in Hollywood or New York. Just have to be
careful when dealing with Street Peformers.
Posted by: Alex | November 11, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Only in Hollywood.
Posted by: Tom B. | November 11, 2009 at 08:16 PM
But who will save us from the Green Goblin?
Posted by: Spitma | November 11, 2009 at 08:25 PM
It seems to me that there's a need for a regulatory committee to weed out the
bogus comic book heroes that use the characters' costumes for nefarious purposes
like begging or assaulting people on the street. It gives our kids "heroes" a
bad name. And, Mr. Loomis, aka Spider Man, should be ashamed of himself. Ask any
3-year old about Spider Man...he'll tell you where it's at. Grow up, Loomis and
act your age.
Posted by: Lou | November 12, 2009 at 03:55 AM
FSogol
> Hot on the topic of super heroes hangin' out in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre
> on Hollywood Blvd. comes this timely story:
>
> http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/spidey-senses-arrest-of-spiderman.html
>
>
> A Spider-Man impersonator was arrested on outstanding criminal warrants today
> after an incident in which he allegedly slugged a man near the Hollywood and
> Highland complex, Los Angeles police said.
>
> It was not immediately clear what led to the altercation, which was reported
> about 12:30 p.m. in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard. But it's the latest
> in a string of incidents involving movie characters and celebrity lookalikes who
> vie for space -- and attention -- along the tourist-filled corridor that
> includes Grauman's Chinese Theater.
>
> Christopher Loomis, 39, was being held on outstanding misdemeanor warrants in
> lieu of $5,500 bail, police said.
>
> The incident unfolded when LAPD patrol officers received a radio call reporting
> a battery by a man in a Spider-Man costume. When they arrived, they encountered
> four different people dressed as the web-slinging crusader.
>
> "They stopped one, it wasn't him," LAPD Lt. Beverly Lewis said. "They stopped
> the second, and it was the suspect."
>
> The victim, who said he was hit in the face and arms, refused to press charges
> against the costumed impersonator. But Lewis said that when they discovered the
> warrants, he was booked. She said it appeared the suspect and victim knew each
> other.
>
Guess J. Jonah Jameson was right.
--
FSogol