A character actor who dresses up as Batman in Times Square has been arrested for stealing from a tourist, the New York Daily News reported. Jose Escalona-Martinez, 42, was arrested Wednesday evening around 8:30 p.m. and charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
RELATED:Costumed characters protest proposed legislation in Times Square “The Batman impersonator posed for a photo with a tourist, who then opened his or her wallet to get money for a tip. Police say Batman took this opportunity to snatch a large bill from their open wallet,” Curbed New York reported. According to the Daily News, “Batman” stole $50 from the unsuspecting tourist.
A dark night for Gotham when fake batman is led away in cuffs. Time to enact Mayor @billdeblasio reforms ASAP! pic.twitter.com/6YhXfEBYXw
— ABetterTimesSquare (@abettertsq) February 25, 2016
This isn’t the Dark Knight’s first run in with the law.
The Daily News reported that Escalona-Martinez has sued the city twice alleging false arrests. Most recently he was cited for going into a part of Times Square off limits to costumed characters.
Escalona-Martinez has also protested the regulations regarding costumed characters before this incident. He toldMetro“no one can regulate freedom” when he and other costumed characters gathered for a protest. Escalona-Martinez is reportedly in custody and awaiting a court appearance.
Matt Lee is a web producer for Metro New York. He writes about almost everything and anything. Talk to him (or yell at him) on Twitter so he doesn’t feel lonely@mattlee2669.
