A man dressed as Cookie Monster was arrested in Times Square this past weekend after being accused of groping a teenager.
Gothamist reports that the 16-year-old tourist was outside of a Toys 'R' Us on Sunday evening when Ranulfo Perez approached. Dressed as Cookie Monster, the 48-year-old allegedly "pulled the victim into a hug and forcibly touched her breasts." A spokesperson with the NYPD told Gothamist that Perez was taken into custody at the scene, then charged with second-degree harassment and forcible touching in a manner injurious to a child less than 17.
This comes mere days after Times Square Spider-Man Junior Bishop filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the city of New York claiming that his arrest for fighting with police last summer was the result of harassment. Regardless, there's a long history of costumed characters getting arrested for inappropriate behavior, especially in Times Square.
[via Gothamist]
