Tigger, the bouncy sidekick to Walt Disney World's Winnie the Pooh, is in trouble with the law, again.
A Disney employee playing the famed cartoon character is under investigation after a New Hampshire family accused him of punching their 14-year-old son during a home-video session at Disney-MGM Studios.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office on Saturday said it took a report from Jerry Monaco Sr. stating that Tigger struck his son Jerry Jr. on the head about 12:30 p.m. Friday.
"He felt that Tigger essentially punched his son and he filed a police report," said Deputy Carlos Padilla, a sheriff's spokesman. "Right now the allegation is that a battery occurred. Of course, we see a little of that [family video] tape, and we see what appears to be a battery. We need to talk to all sides to see exactly what happened."
Padilla identified the man in the Tigger costume as Michael J. Fedelem, 31, of Kissimmee. Fedelem could not be reached for comment Saturday evening. Padilla said deputies have interviewed Fedelem and the investigation is "ongoing."
Friday's incident is the second in nearly three years involving Tigger-costumed Disney workers. In February 2004, a 13-year-old girl and her mother reported being groped and molested by someone dressed as Tigger at Magic Kingdom's Toon Town.
Sheriff's officials arrested Michael Chartrand, 38, but a jury later acquitted him, and he was reinstated as a Disney employee. In that case, the girl and her mother reported Tigger had groped their breasts during a photo session.
Padilla said Friday's confrontation was taped by Jerry Monaco Sr. and after reviewing the footage with his family, they decided to come forward.
Disney officials said Fedelem has been suspended until an internal investigation and the sheriff's criminal inquiry are completed.
"We received a complaint that a character allegedly struck a guest," said Zoraya Suarez, a Disney spokeswoman. "Naturally, a physical altercation between characters and guests is not tolerated."
The Monacos' home video, shot by Jerry Monaco Sr., shows a towering Tigger standing next to Jerry Monaco Jr. while his mother and two brothers kneel or stand in front of the costumed character.
In a series of seconds, Tigger grabs and locks Jerry Jr.'s left arm with his right arm and then throws a left jab at the teen's face.
The Monacos could not be reached for comment Saturday at their Greenville, N.H., home, but father and son told television reporters that Tigger threw a punch without provocation.
"At first, I thought he was kidding and all, just playing around, and then when he actually grabbed my arm. . .," Jerry Jr. said.
His father said their Disney vacation was marred: "You don't come here for this, I mean, Disney is supposed to be a safe place. It's supposed to be a place that you come and enjoy with your family."
"At first, I was upset at my son," he said. "I thought he did something to Tigger. But then I reviewed it and it is pretty clear; for no reason he just clocked him in the face."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment