TIMES SQUARE — A trio of costumed characters were arrested for withholding change from two tourists — a few hours after the city unveiled its new “designated activity zones” for performers, the NYPD said.
An Iowa tourist and his daughter were walking across from 1540 Broadway, between West 45th and West 46th streets, around 12:50 p.m. on Thursday when a 27-year-old man dressed as Iron Man and a 29-year-old man dressed as The Incredible Hulk approached him and started saying, “take a picture, take a picture,” police and a complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said.
A 28-year-old woman dressed as Princess Anna from “Frozen” also approached the pair, saying, “picture, picture,” the complaint said.
After the tourist and his daughter snapped a photo with the three performers, the tourist gave the Iron Man a $10 bill, the DA’s office said.
“It’s $5 each,” the Iron Man told him, according to the complaint.
The Iron Man put the $10 in a bag around his waist, took a $5 out of the bag and gave it to The Hulk, the DA’s office said.
The two performers walked away from the man without giving him the change he requested, the complaint said.
Princess Anna, meanwhile, started saying, “tip, tip,” after the photo was taken, the DA’s office said.
The tourist’s daughter was holding a $1 bill and a $10 bill and told Princess Anna she would give her $1 — at which point the performer took the $10 from the daughter’s hand and gave her $3 back, the complaint said.
The tourist’s daughter told a police officer she hadn’t given Princess Anna permission to take the cash, the DA’s office said.
All three performers were arrested and charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, the complaint said.
They were released on Friday and are expected to appear in court on July 18, the DA's office said.
An attorney representing The Incredible Hulk and Princess Anna did not immediately respond to request for comment on Friday.
Iron Man’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
