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Times Square Cookie Monster and Pals Cuffed for Harassing Tourist: NYPD

By Maya Rajamani | February 9, 2016 5:39pm
 Three costumed characters, including a woman dressed as Cookie Monster, were arrested on Feb. 7 after harassing a 43-year-old tourist for money.
Three costumed characters, including a woman dressed as Cookie Monster, were arrested on Feb. 7 after harassing a 43-year-old tourist for money.
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Facebook/Cookie Monster

TIMES SQUARE — Three costumed characters who bullied a tourist into giving them $10 have been arrested for harassment, police said.

A woman dressed as Minnie Mouse, a man dressed as Olaf the Snowman from Disney's "Frozen" and a 44-year-old woman dressed as Cookie Monster posed for a photo with a 43-year-old tourist staying at a hotel in Midtown in front of 1540 Broadway at approximately noon on Sunday, according to police.

After the man took a picture with the three characters, they began following him and demanding $20, blocking his path as he tried to walk away, an officer who observed the interaction said.

Feeling intimidated, the tourist gave the characters $10, police said.

Police said the three were arrested for harassment.

The Manhattan District Attorney Office’s did not have records of charges against the suspects.

It was the most recent in a string of incidents involving costumed characters aggressively demanding money for photos from tourists.