Wednesday, October 19, 2011

“Petoskey Batman,” Mark Wayne Williams, Gets Probation

 


 

Mark Wayne Williams, Real-Life 'Batman,' Gets Probation in Michigan

First Posted: 10/18/11 01:48 PM ET Updated: 10/18/11 01:52 PM ET
Huffington Post

Holy justice system! A Michigan man who tried to be a real-life Batman, but got into a tiff with police, has been ordered to hang-up his tights and mask for six months.

Police in Petoskey arrested Mark Wayne Williams, known as the Petoskey Batman to his fans, in May when they found him dangling from a roof dressed in a Caped Crusader's costume.

After rescuing Williams, then 31, they discovered the wannabe crime-fighter was carrying a baton, a canister of a chemical irritant spray and lead-lined gloves. They arrested him for trespassing and carrying dangerous weapons.

The charges were changed and in a deal reached last month, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of resisting and obstructing an officer, according to The Petoskey News-Review.

A judge sentenced him Monday to probation for six months, during which time he's forbidden to dress up in his Batman outfit.

Williams's arrest and mug shot made him a brief celebrity. The booking photo depicts him posing in his blue and gray costume with sweat-soaked armpits that would make Adam West cry. A Facebook page for the Petoskey Batman has more than 4,000 fans.

Concerned about vigilante-like behavior, police around the country have started treating amateur superheroes like super villains

In Seattle, Benjamin Fodor, who tried to keep the streets safe at night under his alter ego Phoenix Jones, was arrested for allegedly assaulting late-night revelers this month.













3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you remember when the Adam West show was on? It was the first time I recall hearing the term "camp." It was said the Batman TV show was "so bad that it's good."

David In TN

Nicholas said...

Around 1966. I recall that being said of a few shows back then, like Camp Run Amuck, starring Arch Johnson.

Anonymous said...

Why would anybody want to do this? I just don't understand it.