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The Craziest Arrests We’ve Seen at Disney!
According to reports, nearly 160,000 people visit Walt Disney World Resort every single day. Guests come from all over the world and from all walks of life. They have different wants, different needs, and different personalities.
However, when you visit a Disney park — whether it be EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or another park — there are certain rules you must follow. Disney has a number of policies regarding guest behavior, as well as what is and is not allowed in the theme parks.
Disney takes the safety of its guests and cast members very seriously. They will not hesitate to remove a guest if they are acting in an unsafe manner. However, sometimes even Disney security needs help, so they call in the local police.
Here are some of the craziest arrests we have seen at Disney.
Fugitive Taken Down at Animal Kingdom
In November 2022, Quashon Burton decided to visit Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World with his young daughter. Unfortunately for Burton, he was no ordinary guest. He had been on the run from authorities for more than a year after being arrested for stealing the identities of four people. He allegedly used their identities to fraudulently obtain $150,000 meant to help small businesses during the pandemic.
@police.plug1
In what could truly be considered a twist worthy of a Hollywood movie, Burton was identified as a fugitive because the postal inspector who signed his arrest warrant was also vacationing at Animal Kingdom at the same time. The inspector was able to recognize the fugitive because of a specific tattoo on his neck.
Police approached Burton, who claimed to be completely confused as to why he was being questioned by police. He refused to give his name and was arrested in front of his daughter and escorted to a police car. The police told him that they knew he was, and then revealed that he had used a fake identity in order to book his vacation.
@police.plug1
On September 21, 2023, Burton was sentenced after agreeing to a plea deal. He reportedly pled guilty to conspiracy and the other charges against him were dropped. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison and must repay the $150,000 he stole. When he is released, he will be under strict supervision.
Trespasser Arrested at Big Thunder Mountain
The security guards and police officers hired by Disney work very hard to make sure that they keep guests and cast members as safe as possible. But the theme parks are big places, and they can’t be everywhere at once. Thankfully, Disney has cameras in almost every nook and cranny.
Back in June 2023, a guest named McKenna was visiting Disneyland Park, AKA The Happiest Place on Earth. But it was anything but happy for one guest, who was hauled out of the theme park in handcuffs.
@magicallymckenna According to CM’s this is day two of this lady breaking in #disney #disneyfyp #fyp #distok #disneyjail #arrestedatdisney #disneypolice #disneyc #disneyrecordgirl #disneyland #disneyparks #disneymusic #disneyrecord #disneyvinyl #vinylrecord #disneytiktok
According to a video shared by McKenna, the woman was caught sneaking into the theme park. And a cast member said that it wasn’t the first time. The woman had actually snuck into the park the day before as well!
The unnamed woman tried to evade capture by hiding at the popular roller coaster, Big Thunder Mountain, located in Frontierland. We do not know the woman’s identity, and we do not know why she was sneaking into the theme park. It is possible that she did not want to buy a ticket to get in, or it’s possible that she was already banned from entering the parks and was trying to get in despite that.
Man Watching Porn on EPCOT Attraction
Why does it seem that so many people think that EPCOT is the best place to misbehave while on their Walt Disney World vacation? We have seen people lying in the fountains while enjoying a cocktail, jumping into the World Showcase Lagoon, and assaulting cast members while intoxicated.
And then there is Robert Fitzpatrick of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Back in March 2023, Mr. Fitzpatrick visited Walt Disney’s Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. He headed to the France Pavilion and boarded the popular attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
In a somewhat odd request, Mr. Fitzpatrick asked the Disney cast member if he could have a ride vehicle to himself. But it wasn’t because he wanted to enjoy venturing through a Parisian kitchen by himself.
No, he wanted the ride vehicle to himself because he wanted to feel free to watch inappropriate videos and light up a cigarette. And, while watching said inappropriate video, he also decided to touch himself. He even urinated in the cart.
Of course, smoking is banned in the theme parks. And Disney has security cameras EVERYWHERE. So, security met Mr. Fitzpatrick at the end of the attraction and promptly arrested him. He was taken to jail on charges of misdemeanor exposure of his sex organs.
Guest Sexually Assaults Disney World Security Guard
As we previously stated, Disney takes the safety of its cast members incredibly seriously. That is why one man got arrested during a visit to Three Bridges Bar & Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
According to police, 36-year-old Andrew Ticknor visited the popular eatery in May 2023. He was allegedly visibly “intoxicated and stumbling around near the entrance” of the restaurant. He then slapped a Disney security guard — who was in uniform — on the rear end with an open hand.
Originally, the security guard said that she did not want to press charges, she just wanted Ticknor removed from the property. However, she changed her mind after speaking to her manager.
Ticknor tried to return to his room and ignore the request to leave Disney property. He was then arrested and issued a trespass notice, meaning he is banned from stepping foot on any Disney property or visiting any Disney park.
Naked Man on “it’s a small world”
It’s always notable when a person is arrested while visiting a Disney park, this might just be the craziest arrest we have ever seen!
On November 26, guests riding “it’s a small world” Holiday in Disneyland Park were shocked when a man climbed out of the boat he was riding in. Things quickly got a heck of a lot crazier when the man took off his clothes. He then began climbing on the ride, using the animatronic dolls for balance. He would sit, stare at the guests, then get up and move to another spot.
Guys please don’t do this it’s not only is it’s dangerous for you it’s dangerous to everyone on the ride.
And if you or anyone needs help call the crisis hotline at 988.
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Eventually, the man made his way to the outdoor part of the ride, where guests saw him fully nude and trying to avoid police. He splashed in the water and climbed on the side walkway area at the ride’s exit.
The man was eventually captured by police and covered up with what looked like a blanket. He refused to walk and was carried backstage by about half a dozen members of the Anaheim Police Department. The unidentified man was arrested and charged with public indecency and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Cast Members Arrested in Pedophile Stings
Not all major Disney arrests that make the news actually take place at the theme parks. That is the case with multiple former Disney World employees who have been arrested during a series of sex trafficking and pedophile stings that have taken place in recent years in Central Florida.
Sadly, these arrests are not a one-off. Back in August 2021, three Walt Disney World Resort cast members were arrested during an undercover child predator sting. Two of the people arrested were a couple who worked as custodians at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The other was a man who worked as a lifeguard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Just a few months later, several more cast members were arrested in another pedophile sting conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
One cast member who was arrested was a 27-year-old man who worked at Disney’s Polynesian Village & Resort. He was caught sending explicit photos to a girl he thought was just 14 years old.
In June 2023, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted another pedophile sting and another Walt Disney World Resort cast member was arrested.
Paul Viel, who worked at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in the Magic Kingdom, was arrested after police found disturbing materials on his computer. He was allegedly aroused by sexual acts of violence committed against children. Viel was charged with 540 counts of possessing and distributing child pornography.
And just a few months ago — in September 2023 — that same Sheriff’s Office conducted a human trafficking sting that ended in the arrest of more cast members.
We do not know much about the three cast members, but we do know that one worked as a custodian, one was a security guard, and the third was a training coordinator.
During a press conference on the sting, the Polk County Sheriff even made the comment that it would be odd if a Disney cast member was NOT arrested in one of their sting operations.
Have you ever seen someone arrested at a Disney park? Let us know in the comments!
This post is originally appeared on Disney Fanatic.
