Times Square advocate wants crackdown on costumed characters
NEW YORK -The president of the Times Square Alliance in New York City is calling for regulations on costumed characters, saying they've gotten out of control, reports CBS New York.
Times Square's self-styled cast of comic book characters are no strangers to crime. Several have been arrested over the years.
On Friday, it was Spider-Man's turn.
Moussa Rabaui, 22, of Queens, who was dressed as the comic book superhero, allegedly grabbed a woman's breasts and backside after putting his arms around her. He was charged with forcible touching, reports the station.
"In the last 10 days alone, we've seen two Statues of Liberty arrested, a Spider-Man convicted of harassing a tourist, and now a third character arrested for groping a woman in Times Square," Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said in a statement issued Saturday. "The situation is out of control and a licensing and regulatory scheme must be put in place."
In addition to the instances listed by Tompkins, a man dressed as Woody from "Toy Story" was accused in January of forcibly groping women in Times Square.
Just last week, a different Spider-Man was convicted of harassment, according to CBS new York. Phillip Williams, who dresses up as the superhero, was convicted of harassing a woman in a Times Square spat. He was found guilty after a brief bench trial in Manhattan Criminal Court -- although he was acquitted of a more serious charge of attempted assault.
In April of 2013, a man dressed as the Cookie Monster was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly shoving a 2 1/2-year-old boy. In February, a judge agreed to dismiss charges against the man if he completed a day of community service.
In 2012, a man dressed as Elmo was arrested for allegedly launching into an anti-Semitic tirade.
Even one of the first costumed -- or rather UN-costumed -- characters, the Naked Cowboy, Robert Burck, admits it's getting crowded.
"There's 20 Elmos and 20 Mickey Mouses," he told CBS New York.