Clowning Around

In the body of Florida's laws, there are bound to be quite a few that defy explanation. For example, Florida statute 876.13 which states: No person or persons shall in this state, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be, or appear upon or within the public property of any municipality or county of the state. That said, we can now understand what the cop was thinking when he arrested 18 year old Matthew David Lopez on Tuesday. Because Mr. Lopez was walking down a public street wearing a clown mask and orange wig. You can read about his arrest here. The reader comments range from jokes about the stupidity of the police for turning this into an arrest in the first place, to those who defend the cop's actions, and those who insist that if the police want to arrest anyone for this, it ought to be aimed at Muslim women who wear the niqab (face veil).

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Nethie - Thu Feb 25, 2010
Category: Clowns | Costumes and Masks | Crime

Comments

Can you say Sarasota?

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/25/10 at 01:08 PM

so that's why kiss never performs in florida! 😝 if they stop every clown walking down the street that's profiling and profiling is wrong!

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 02/25/10 at 06:36 PM

I've been to Florida, how do you tell who's a clown and who's just condo-stuffing with a bad facelift and too much make-up on? 😖

Posted by Dumbfounded on 02/25/10 at 06:39 PM

I read the article and for the life of me could not imagine why they arrested this kid. Let's face it, he's 18, and no one ever makes good decisions when they are 18. But now he's got that arrest on his record, and it'll follow him around... and why? Because he was wearing a clown mask and wig? Could it possibly be more ridiculous? I feel sorry for him.

Posted by Nethie on 02/25/10 at 08:25 PM

KDP, Insane Clown Posse not only plays in Florida, it's one of their favorite spots, especially St. Pete--very close to Tampa. And yes, they get hassled...or rather, the "Juggalos" do.

But...yea...living less than 5 miles from Tampa also tells me that someone walking around in a clown mask probably has to do with something illegal. It usually does around here. I mean, out of all the weird news, there's something from the Tampa Bay area at least twice a week.

I guess he could be doing ANYTHING....

Posted by RazzleCap in Clearwater on 02/26/10 at 12:08 AM

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