Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #565

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Police Warn Locals Not To Approach Man In Cookie Monster Costume Terrorizing Seaside Area
By Chris Samuel
Police have warned locals not to engage a man walking around dressed as the Cookie Monster who has been terrorising a seaside area in California.
The man, who wears a costume of the beloved Sesame Street character, has reportedly been creeping out visitors to the Santa Cruz Wharf, bothering them and aggressive- ly yelling.
One visitor to the popular tourist desti- nation said: “It's the creepy monster not the Cookie Monster."
One person who works locally said he turned up the day Sesame Street cre- ator Lloyd Morrisett died in January this year, local outlet KSBW reported.
Mark said: "I saw him on the day the 'Sesame Street' cre- ator died. Like I told you, he was sad
about that. He kept showing up and peo- ple started complain- ing about him."
Joyce Blaschke of Santa Cruz Police Department said: “We are getting calls from people who say he is ‘creepy.’
"Based on his history, we advise the public to not engage with this individual. Steer clear from him."
Police have said the man has faced crimi- nal charges in other parts of the United States but didn't pro-
vide any further details.
Though they have received several calls about the Cookie Monster, the man hasn't committed any crimes and so can't be arrested.
One person reported that he has been get- ting in other visitors' faces.
Michelle Roberts, a visitor to the pier, said: “We saw him at the beginning of the wharf.
"At first glance, it just
seemed like maybe it would be fun to do a selfie with him but we were away from him and then we went to the back of the wharf by the deadlines, and that's when we saw him coming out mak- ing a commotion and getting in people's faces."
The man behind the Cookie Monster mask has reportedly been named as Adam Sandler - but he's no relation to the Hollywood actor.
Mr Sandler, 59, has a history of causing
trouble in costumes, according to police.
In the mid-2010s Mr Sandler would dress up as Elmo in San Francisco and shout at tourists who would- n't give him a tip when they took a photo with him, earn- ing the nickname "Evil Elmo".
He was eventually arrested and banned from the Fisherman’s Wharf and Embarcadero piers in the city.
Mr Sandler has histo- ry of causing trouble across the US.
LA police detective Jeana Franco said in 2016: “This guy is like a national nuisance.”
A business owner in L A said: “I would like to see him get some kind of help. I don’t think he belongs out on the street... no one wants to hear the Cookie Monster say he’s going to kill their family.”
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine