Saturday, May 14, 2011

Superhero Arrested for Felony Possession of Dangerous Weapons


'Batman' identified, arraigned

Batman
A 31-year-old Harbor Springs man who, police say, was on the roof of a business in downtown Petoskey, dressed as Batman was arrested early Wednesday morning for trespassing and possession of dangerous weapons, according to a Petoskey Department of Public Safety news release. (Photo courtesy of the Petoskey Department of Public Safety
Heather Lockwood (231) 439-9398 - hlockwood@petoskeynews.com 
9:49 a.m. EDTMay 11, 2011

A 31-year-old Harbor Springs man who, police say, was on the roof of Meyer Ace Hardware in downtown Petoskey, dressed as Batman, and, who was arrested early Wednesday morning for trespassing and possession of dangerous weapons, has been arraigned.

Mark Wayne Williams faces one count of carrying a concealed weapon, for allegedly carrying Freeze Plus P, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison or a $2,500 fine; one count of carrying a concealed weapon, for allegedly carrying a folding steel baton or bludgeon, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison or a $2,500 fine; one count of carrying a concealed weapon, for allegedly carrying weighted Sap (sand filled) gloves, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison or a $2,500 fine; one count of dangerous weapon -- gas ejective device, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and, or a $2,500 fine; one count of dangerous weapon -- miscellaneous, for allegedly possessing a bludgeon, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and, or a $2,500 fine; one count of dangerous weapon -- miscellaneous, for allegedly possessing a sand bag, a felony offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and, or a $2,500 fine; and one count of disturbing the peace, a misdemeanor offense with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and, or a $500 fine.

Williams is a habitual offender, third offense, court records show.

"I realize that this is a serious offense. I honestly had no idea the items I was holding are illegal," Williams told the court during his arraignment Wednesday afternoon in Emmet County 90th District Court. "I did not intend to harm anyone with these items. I swear that."

Petoskey police received a report of a man on the roof of a downtown business, located in the 400 block of East Mitchell Street, about 12:40 a.m. May 11, today, according to a Petoskey Department of Public Safety news release. Additional information supplied by central dispatch included the fact that the man was dressed as Batman.

Responding officers, including Michigan State Police troopers, saw "a male subject, dressed in a Batman costume, hanging off the western wall of the building," according to the release. The officers got onto the roof and pulled the man back onto it.

Officers detained the man and located a baton-type striking weapon, a can of chemical irritant spray and a pair of Sap sand filled gloves, according to the release. The suspect was arrested for trespassing and possession of dangerous weapons.

Public safety director John Calabrese said the department has had contact with Williams before.

"We've had contact with him in the past where he's made himself up to look like that Crow character, who's also a comic book character," Calabrese said, though he could not provide any further details.
As of Wednesday, Williams was being held at the Emmet County Jail on a $20,000 cash surety bond.

Williams is to appear in court for a pre-trial conference May 23 and for a preliminary examination May 25. The court appointed Bryan Klawuhn to be his attorney.

Shameless Screen Grab courtesy of Petoskey News.com

Reposted from earlier, as it appears the Blogger Outage of 2011 ate the content. 

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