In a bizarre turn of events in Florida, a man dressed as Ronald McDonald found himself in handcuffs after parading around a shopping center. The clown costume couldn’t disguise his criminal intentions as police quickly recognized him as someone previously banned from the premises.
At a glance:
• Christopher Marlowe, 40, was arrested while wearing a Ronald McDonald costume at a Palm Bay shopping center
• Police bodycam footage shows Marlowe becoming aggressive and struggling with officers before being subdued
• An orange replica gun was found in his pocket, along with multiple clown outfits and red noses in his backpack
• Marlowe faces misdemeanor trespassing and felony charges for resisting officers with violence
• The homeless man has a lengthy criminal history including drug possession and previous trespassing charges
Florida Man’s Clown Costume Doesn’t Fool Police
Christopher Marlowe, 40, was arrested on March 27 after returning to a Palm Bay shopping center where he had previously been banned. Marlowe wasn’t exactly trying to blend in, as he was fully decked out in a Ronald McDonald costume while reportedly yelling to himself and causing a disturbance at Interchange Plaza.
When approached by officers, Marlowe quickly turned hostile, setting off a confrontation that was captured on police bodycam footage. The encounter turned physical when officers attempted to place him under arrest for trespassing, leading to additional felony charges for resisting with violence.
Officers can be heard on bodycam footage telling Marlowe, “Don’t go anywhere. Chris, you’re not free to leave. You’re under arrest now. Put your stuff down.” Instead of complying, Marlowe chose to physically resist, leading to a scuffle with the responding officers before they successfully handcuffed him.
The Palm Bay Police Department later shared the video on social media with a joke about the situation. “What do you call someone who returns to a shopping plaza after they’ve been Trespassed? ….a clown,” officers wrote.
Clown Costumes and Contraband
During the arrest, police discovered an orange replica gun in Marlowe’s pocket. An additional search of his backpack uncovered multiple clown outfits and red noses, suggesting this wasn’t a one-time costume choice for the suspect.
Lengthy Criminal History
Marlowe’s run-in with the law is far from his first, as court records reveal an extensive criminal history. The homeless man has previous convictions for trespassing, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In January, he pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine and a glass pipe, resulting in a 65-day jail sentence. His latest charges have landed him in Brevard County jail with a $5,500 bond and an arraignment scheduled for April 17.
