Spider-Man Is Committing Crimes All Over The World
Officers were able to grab the suspect, “preventing a fall that would have certainly result in serious bodily injury,” according to the report. Not very superhero-like. Douthit was handcuffed and charged with felony criminal mischief for harming one of the cars in addition to a felony menacing charge for the initial report.
Strangely, this isn’t the first time a criminal has attempted to imitate Spider-man in order to carry out their crimes. Back in 2012, California resident Daniel James Bradley, 22 at the time, dressed as the superhero in an attempt to steal a woman’s purse. According to officers, the victim, a 24-year-old, had just parked her car when he began staring at her in full garb. Bradley then walked toward her vehicle and she noticed he was holding a gun underneath his sleeve. She ran off, yelling for someone to call for help. At that point, Bradley evidently chickened out and fled. He dumped the jacket he was wearing and a metal bar in a bush, and ran down the sidewalk still dressed as Spider-man. A witness identified Bradley, as did the victim. Hard to miss him committing his crimes in his chosen outfit, really. He was booked on $65,000 bail.
Then, in 2015, a suspect in Georgia went on a bank and store robbing spree dressed as the comic legend. Instead of climbing on buildings, he was reported fleeing in a four-door hatchback by witnesses. And, just this past April, another individual began robbing banks and pharmacies dressed as Spider-man in New York, seeking both money and prescription drugs and claiming to have planted bombs in order to receive what he came for. The list goes on and on, covering nearly the entire United States and other areas of the world, including Australia, the Czech Republic and Ontario, over the past decade. Spider-man criminals have been spotted in Tennessee, Ohio, Washington and North Carolina.
What is it about Spider-man that it so appealing to criminals? Perhaps it’s just a trend. Or, perhaps it’s that the costume can cover one’s entire face and body, if in full-blown Spider-man clad. Or, maybe it’s just cool that Spider-man is so elusive and able to maneuver so stealthily. Although, Douthit learned the hard way, the average human body isn’t equipped to do the same. Better to stick with idolizing the superhero by simply watching his movies.
Sources:
Chad Douthit: Dumbest Spider-Man Impression Ever
Man arrested after trying to mug woman while wearing Spider-Man costume as a ‘disguise’
Spider-Man goes on hat-wearing, bank-robbing crime spree
Spiderman mask Bronx bank robber wanted by FBI
Why Do So Many Criminals Wear Spider-Man Masks? Was The Daily Bugle Right All
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