LA police target pop icon impersonators on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Los Angeles police have launched an effort to clear the famed Walk of Fame of unlicensed Hollywood character impersonators whom the tourists have long complained of pestering with aggressive advances in the hope of receiving tips, with a number of arrests over the past several days.

Just days after Spiderman, Cat Woman and at least a dozen others were taken into custody by city police, Batman impersonator Tony Tomey, who was defiant of the crackdown, was handcuffed and taken to jail in front of the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. He remained behind the bars as of Thursday afternoon, CNN reported on its website.

Tourists and other visitors to Hollywood Boulevard in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater complained of being accosted by overzealous costumed movie characters who pestered them for tips after having pictures taken with them, local television channel KTLA 5 reported quoting Los Aangeles Police Department(LAPD) officials.

Struggling super heroes and cartoon character, who survive on the tips while pursuing their dreams of stardom, have seen their numbers swollen in recent months along with the complaints that some were strong-arming tourists for tips, CNN reported.

Some of the super heros blame a few characters who may be giving them a bad name. "It's possible that some of the characters are a little aggressive," Tony Toney, or The Dark Knight.

At least nine people were arrested during the drive, including Scooby Doo, a Johnny Depp lookalike, an Elvis and another Cat Woman, CNN said quoting one of the impersonators. All were charged with loitering and some were cited and told to leave the area.

LAPD says they will continue to enforce the ban when they have the resources available, KTLA 5 said.

This is not the first time when those who regularly don costumes on the Walk of Fame are targeted.

In October 2005, Don Harper, the man in a knockoff Elmo costume and two others who impersonated pop icons were taken down by a special task force created to combat a growing nuisance in the Hollywood tourist district. Police estimated anywhere from 70 to 80 characters worked the one-block stretch, who had gotten more aggressive both with tourists and each other.

Some netizens on the CNN bulletin board expressed their dismay at the police operation. "sowhat0" said that Superman, whom the poster met ten years ago, was "sweet and funny, and did not harass anyone."

"This is ridiculous," the poster said." Don't cops in LA have better ways to spend their time?"

"I have never been harassed, threatened, or intimidated," bastian1138 said. "I have only been entertained, had a smile put on my face, and enjoyed my visit to the walk of fame, Chinese Theater, and other venues."

Source: Xinhua