Either Chewbacca is a little too distraught with the events that happened in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" or the First Order is framing the beloved Wookiee in our galaxy because, on Tuesday, police announced that they arrested Chewie and a Stormtrooper in Times Square for harassing tourists.
According to police, the two misguided folks from a galaxy far, far away posed for a photo-op with tourists then forcefully demanded to be paid $10 each. Both Chewie and the Stormtrooper did not allow the tourists who took photos with them to leave until they gave in to their demand.
The two costumed offenders, 46-year-old Kasey Braxton and 36-year-old Tobert Williams, were arrested by police on Monday at Broadway and 45th St. on grounds of aggressive panhandling, but Williams had also been charged with harassment.
The two were not the only ones arrested, however, because just half an hour prior to their arrest, the friendly Cookie Monster from Sesame Street was hauled in the New York Police Department Substation for the same offense. It seems Cookie Monster proved to be grouchier than Oscar the Grouch because, after being friendly with a tourist and posing for a photo, the furry blue monster harassed the human and demanded to be paid for the photo.
The fake cookie monster, 29-year-old Nestorina Morales Perez from New Jersey, was arrested for aggressive panhandling and harassment too. Police say they have received many complaints about costumed individuals harassing tourists in the area.
The city is already in negotiations to mark off activity areas for costumed individuals but the Times Square Alliance (TSA) says they need more support.
"We need help ensuring that the Rebel Alliance's proposals are passed – or we could quickly revert to the Dark Side this summer," TSA Spokesperson Tim Tompkins said.
