This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/man-dressed-as-spiderman-arrested-for-attacking-police-officer-in-times-square-9631062.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man dressed as Spider-Man arrested for attacking police officer in Times Square Man dressed as Spider-Man arrested in Times Square after attacking police officer
(about 3 hours later)
A man dressed as Spider-Man is under arrest for punching a police officer who told him to stop harassing tourists in New York's Times Square. A man has been arrested after punching a police officer in the face in Times Square while dressed as Spider-Man.
Junior Bishop is charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. The impersonator was dressed head to toe in the Spider-Man outfit while allegedly telling New York tourists he only accepted $5, $10 and $20 dollar bills for people to have their picture taken with them.
Police say the officer interceded Saturday after Bishop demanded at least $5 from a woman he posed for a picture with, instead of the $1 she offered. But as Peter Parker was told by his grandfather; “With great power comes great responsibility,” which a police officer clearly wanted to point out to the chancer after he overheard the amount the fake Spider-Man was charging tourists.
The officer told the costumed 25-year-old he could only accept tips — not require payment. Junior Bishop, 25, was let down by his Spidey-sense when he swore at the police officer who told tourists he was obliged to accept donations of any amount they chose, and continued to swear as the New York cop asked for his identification, which Mr Bishop said he didn’t have.
Police say a yelling, cursing Bishop broke free from arrest after failing to produce identification and punched the officer in the face.  
The officer was treated for a cut and eye swelling and released.  
AP Mr Bishop then revealed his true identity as he tore off his mask and threw repeated punches at the police officer who had tried to arrest him and who was then backed up by a second officer, as they took the not-so-friendly-neighbourhood Spider-Man down. 
The fracas was caught on video while other street performers dressed as Mickey Mouse, Elmo and Batman stood by and watched.
Mr Bishop has been charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. The officer was taken to a medical centre to be treated for pain and swelling to the face.
“The real Spider-Man would never have done something like this,” an officer told The New York Post, while another source was quoted as saying Mr Bishop had been arrested seven times. Mr Bishop was arrested in April this year for allegedly carrying a knife during his panhandling activities, while acting aggressively.
But the Spidey impersonator’s fellow performers jumped to his defence. A man dressed as Batman told the paper that the police officer had been overly aggressive, claiming that Spider-Man was grabbed by the neck, while a woman dressed as Minnie Mouse said Mr Bishop had been asking “politely” for tips.
The performers claimed that “everybody is scared after what happened to the man in Staten Island,” referring to the case of Eric Garner, who died of a heart attack while in police custody, hours after being arrested and allegedly put into an illegal chokehold by officers.