Fla.: No charges for 'Tigger' actor

[Hobarticus]

Oh thank goodness. :crazy: :silly: :crazy: :silly: How'd you like to be the poor cop stuck investigating this?

ORLANDO, Fla. - Criminal charges will not be filed against a Disney employee accused of hitting a teenager while in costume as the Winnie the Pooh character "Tigger," authorities said.

The State Attorney's Office announced Thursday that it will not press charges against Michael J. Fedelem. Prosecutors made the decision after reviewing a complaint from New Hampshire resident Jerry Monaco.

Monaco videotaped his 14-year-old son, Jerry Jr., posing with a costumed Fedelem at Disney-MGM Studios in January. At some point a confrontation occurred between the boy and Fedelem. The father later watched the videotape and said Fedelem intentionally hit his son "on or about the head," Orange County Sheriff officials said.

Park officials suspended Fedelem, 31, while the investigation was being conducted. A telephone call placed to Disney officials by The Associated Press early Friday to find out Fedelem's employment status was not immediately returned.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_re_us/tigger_trouble;_ylt=Ak8GJ1l5fFmP2nJRlN1ipQRH2ocA

[Richard Steele]

1. That tape was posted here awhile back. The father is full of crap & looking for a payout.

Funny how he TAPED the incident himself, but
didn't have a problem with it until days later.

[zbdent]

3. Would have been interesting to see where else on the same tape

that the kid was being a total d*ck, too ... but the father wouldn't have wanted that shown, would he? I guess dropping the charges was much better than having been exposed as having an uncontrollable teen ...

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. Seems to me those characters have to put up with all kinds of crap....

from little kids pulling on them to teenagers hitting them and generally being stupid.

Years ago I was at Disneyworld and saw a Micky Mouse character being MOBBED by a bunch of little kids. I walked up and leaned over to speak through the mesh the actor sees through and said "You're doing great, keep up the good work". The person grabbed my hand and held tight for probably 20 seconds as if to signal "FINALLY! Someone that realizes i am a human in this hot-assed suit!"

[Hobarticus]

5. And they're forbidden to speak, aren't they?

I spent some time in a big padded suit, as a high school mascot years ago. It's disorienting enough as it is, without a swarm of ankle-biters overwhelming you. Imagine not being able to tell them to scram.

[northzax]

4. you know

wearing a big padded suit makes every maneuver look like a hit. this father needs to take a deep breath and relax.