Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, August 7, 2012
??!! Real Life Superheroes Are Getting Arrested
Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Here's Bleeding Cool reporting on what could be the first arrest in a new trend:
Ex-military policeman Matthew Argintar, 23 from New Jersey, is a Real Life Super Hero. Dressed in a Batman-like face mask, a cape, arm pads and a bulletproof vest. And also a pair of handcuffs. Outside a Home Depot, he began asking people if there was anything they needed help with.
Instead, people looked at the man in the mask and weird outfit and, getting an Aurora shooting vibe from his Batman mask, instead called the police. Argintar was arrested for "disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of handcuffs." Go to Bleeding Cool for the mugshot, and go to Lehigh Valley Live for more information, including a photo of the arrest and an interview with eyewitnesses and the potty-mouthed "superhero."
1
Dressed in a Batman-like face mask, a cape, arm pads and a bulletproof vest. And also a pair of handcuffs. Outside a Home Depot, he began asking people if there was anything they needed help with.Sounds like a porn movie
2
It's a really scary world where a goofball playing dress-up and carrying handcuffs can get arrested for disorderly conduct. Fuck. I'm doing that every time I put on my normal clothes (as opposed to the silly costume I put on to interact with you neurotypical meat bags).
3
So I guess anybody in a superhero outfit is a mass murderer waiting to strike? Because someone killed a bunch of people at a venue at which a superhero movie was playing?
I heard there was a shooting at a school once. Clearly, anybody who is reading from a textbook is getting ready to kill everyone! Oh my god, I even live near a school! What the fuck am I gonna do!
I heard there was a shooting at a school once. Clearly, anybody who is reading from a textbook is getting ready to kill everyone! Oh my god, I even live near a school! What the fuck am I gonna do!
4
Does anyone know when this nonsense with grown men dressing up like comic book characters and offering to help people began? The earliest example I can think of is the guy in Roger & Me.
5
This reminds me of the aftermath of the Columbine shooting. This one kid in my high school had been wearing a trenchcoat to school nearly every day since the start of freshman year. He also rollerbladed to school and carried them around with him during the day. Never was a problem.
Suddenly, Columbine happened and the very next day this kid was surrounded by cops when he got to school and the entire place went on lockdown. Because he was wearing a trenchcoat and carrying something under it. Because people let fear and paranoia get the best of them.
If wearing a stupid costume is all it takes these days, then we're lucky that JP Patches didn't spend his final years rotting in Gitmo.
Suddenly, Columbine happened and the very next day this kid was surrounded by cops when he got to school and the entire place went on lockdown. Because he was wearing a trenchcoat and carrying something under it. Because people let fear and paranoia get the best of them.
If wearing a stupid costume is all it takes these days, then we're lucky that JP Patches didn't spend his final years rotting in Gitmo.
6
Dude was in a cape and mask, standing outside a Home Depot, asking if people needed help with anything.
I would have just assumed he was a luche libre trying to make some extra cash on the side.
I would have just assumed he was a luche libre trying to make some extra cash on the side.
7
There's nothing illegal about dressing like a freak, or at least there shouldn't be. This is America, right?
He got arrested for creeping the hell out of people, which was inevitable if he was going to try to involve others in his fantasy. ("Your rights end where mine begin.") Plus, he had those handcuffs, which are apparently illegal, even if there are worse things you can buy.
At first, I thought he was a looney, but maybe he's not that much different from a trekkie or a Civil War reenactor, only he seems to be too far deep in his fantasy to have a proper healthy perspective.
He got arrested for creeping the hell out of people, which was inevitable if he was going to try to involve others in his fantasy. ("Your rights end where mine begin.") Plus, he had those handcuffs, which are apparently illegal, even if there are worse things you can buy.
At first, I thought he was a looney, but maybe he's not that much different from a trekkie or a Civil War reenactor, only he seems to be too far deep in his fantasy to have a proper healthy perspective.
9
Since when is it illegal to own handcuffs? Seriously, assault rifles are legal, but not handcuffs?
11
Before long, the entire VA budget is going to be taken up by PTSD programs. We will be seeing a lot of new McVeigh's in the next decade. We know what TV & radio programs they listen to, but we have to pretend that Rushbo Inc. doesn't foment racial hatred. Because that would be intolerant.
12
He stood outside a Home Depot? Hell, I’d have put him to work. He's lucky no one asked him for help rewiring their basement.
@9, good point.
@9, good point.
13
I don't know if he had more of a costume going on on-site, but the dude looks a little scary. I get less of a superhero vibe from him and more that of a stressed-out army dude.
Still, "making people uncomfortable" or "being scary looking" doesn't warrant seven years in prison. "Disorderly conduct" sure seems like one of those charges they can use to bust you for whatever they'd like. If it's so easy to bust someone for making people uncomfortable, why can't we get the Phelps Clan behind bars? (Yeah, yeah, I know, false equivalency...)
Still, "making people uncomfortable" or "being scary looking" doesn't warrant seven years in prison. "Disorderly conduct" sure seems like one of those charges they can use to bust you for whatever they'd like. If it's so easy to bust someone for making people uncomfortable, why can't we get the Phelps Clan behind bars? (Yeah, yeah, I know, false equivalency...)
14
@4 I remember there was a dude called himself Captain Sticky active back during the mid-1970s. Was that the same guy? Been a while since I saw Roger & Me.
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