The Batman of Petoskey: Crazed Vigilante or Hero

[XLFD]

Here is an interesting story from the Gotham City of the north, known otherwise as Petoskey, see whether you can determine who the Joker in this story is.

 

 

Late Saturday night, Mark Wayne Williams and his girlfriend were patrolling the streets of Petoskey dressed as Batman and Batgirl, something they do each weekend, but this night was different. They say they saw suspicious activity on the side of the road in Bearcreek Township, they stopped to check it out and quickly called 911. Not long after, State Police arrived.

"I mean yeah I was dressed as Batman I'm out doing my patrols but I mean honestly I had no idea there is an investigation going on I decided to check something out I thought was kind of odd and the next thing I know I'm being arrested for it and it just doesn't seem like it makes a lot of sense where I committed the crime," Petoskey Batman Mark Wayne Williams said.

The crime according to State Police was obstruction of justice. Troopers were already searching for a hit-and-run suspect in the area when they came across Williams who was already scanning the scene. They say his scent threw off the K-9 unit, but his partner saw it in a different way.

"I actually believe that they actually went completely out of their way to get a hold of him and arrest him and I don't understand why he's being arrested he has every right to be out here as much as I do," Petoskey Batgirl Brittany Scott said.

Williams was taken to jail. He says on the ride there, he asked the trooper why he got arrested and he says the response was shocking.

"You know he was very rude to me he was telling me how you know people are scared of me and they don't want me out there and how I'm 33-years-old I need you just give this up and whatever and you know like I said it seems like it was more about who I am then what I was doing here," Williams said.

7&4 News talked with State Police today and they say that Williams did disrupt the search and he was arrested like anyone else would be. Batgirl says that she and her partner are just trying to help and they believe their efforts are misunderstood.

"Most people if they saw someone just in plain clothes helping somebody they're not going to stop and look at and go okay why are they doing that but if the saw someone in costume doing it there to stop. And they're going to remember what's going on and they're going to actually bring to bring more awareness to the situation," Scott said.

Williams says the suit is a symbol of his efforts in the community.

"As far as putting on a suit and everything you know I mean it draws attention to what I'm doing and you know it's basically showing people that there is someone out there trying to make a difference," Williams said

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=809218

 

Both Batman's and Batgirl's stories are related below uncut, while the public official's who arrested the Batman remain fairly tight-lipped.   As they should, since what they arrested Batman for was obstructing a police officer in his duties  MCL 750.479, but there is no evidence to that as of yet, only the earnest testimony of Batman and Batgirl's alter egos which are included at the end of this thread.  Look at them and decide who the hero and the villain of this story is for yourself.

[AQUAMAN]

Holy K-9 shenanigans!!! What's up with that MSP officer? Does he not know a hero from a villain? Has he been on the force for too long, or too short a time to recognize good from evil? Will the officer retract his original arrest in favor of good over bad? Did the officer/s ever catch the real bad guy? One thing is for sure, Batman is a "good guy", unorthodox cape and utility belts notwithstanding....lol. Thanks and a tip of the hat to the local 7 & 4 News team that sought out both sides of the story, not just releasing a biased MSP officer's report, unlike our own LDN here. Staaaaay tuned, we may be more enlightened about this "hit and run caper" in our fair neck of the woods, as more details develop. Good luck Batman and Batgirl, and thanks for caring about people, and after all, isn't that what we pay such high union wages for in our own MSP force? And look what we get for our hard earned buck.......frivolous and skanky law enforcement.

[Willy]

I love this couple. What a great idea and service they are providing. But this is another example of local officials overstepping their authority. They're both right in that without the costumes "Batman" would not have been arrested. Thanks to the State Police this will be turned into a National story and the positive side of that story will be on this couple while the negative aspects will fall onto the police. I've heard many stories about what Aholes the State Police are and some of the stories have come from other law enforcement people. Go Batman and Batwoman.

[AQUAMAN]

If Law Enforcement truly wants the publics input for community action groups, neighborhood watch groups, volunteers for safety and crime watch groups participating to "help and report" crimes/possible crimes, they are going to have to go about it in a more professional way, and not "deter and obstruct" citizens that want to help. Unless I hear that Batman was obstructive and rude to the arresting officer is some shape, way, or form, then I think this case is hogwash, and should be dismissed by the judge. He or she are the ones that called 911 afterall to begin with. Time will tell if the courts there are as biased as Mason County, hope not. As it stands now, Batman has a pretty firm case for false arrest imho.

[Dave]

AH, my old stomping grounds... I lived in Petoskey for 5 years before moving to this area. Don't recall Batman being around before I left but think I heard about him just after. I don't think its a bad idea for this guy and his lady to go out and do what they do as long as they don't interfere in 'real' crime. From the sounds of things, Batman didn't do anything wrong in this case so hopefully he is exonerated.

[XLFD]

Just for the record, back in 2011, Petoskey's Batman was caught on the roof of a building, not doing anything other than lurking (like his iconic hero does) and looking for crime apparently.  The cops didn't like that either.  Otherwise he sounds pretty harmless. 

I seem to remember you came on to the Torch scene with a Batman logo, and you're from Petoskey.  Do you see a pattern, Mark Williams-- I mean, Dave? 

[Dave]

Ummmm... on advice of my lawyer, I must plead the 5th

[XLFD]

Update: 

A 33-year-old Northern Michigan man who dresses up as Batman has avoided more jail but must apologize to police after interfering with them at an accident scene.

Mark Wayne Williams was sentenced Friday in 90th District Court after agreeing to a plea deal charging him with simple trespass.

He received 30 days in jail, but five of those will be done in community service and 23 more will be held in abeyance. Williams was credited for two days served. He only can wear his costume within the Petoskey city limits, about 225 miles northwest of Detroit.

Williams was in the guise of the caped crusader on Sept. 29 when state troopers arrested him because he wouldn't leave them alone while they searched for a driver who had fled an accident.

http://www.woodtv.com//dpp/news/local/nw_mich/mich-batman-sentenced...

I'm going to check into this story further, but not in my mild-mannered guise as internet blogger Clark Kent, but as FOIAman.  I don't see anything that justifies the police's actions or the court's actions in the record so far.  I think they are just weirded out by someone who dresses up in strange clothes to fight crime. 

 

Excuse me but those utility belts and uniforms the cops wear, and those funky robes the judges wear can be seen as rather strange costumes in themselves.  The criminalization of Mark Williams does not seem fair, just, or a proper way for our justice system to comport themselves. 

[AQUAMAN]

Thanks for that update X, was just wondering about the outcome here not too long ago too. I guess they want to send a message to John Q. Public, via LE, "don't need your stinkin help, bug off". I wonder who owned the land?

[Progressive Tiger]

NEWS FLASH

Petoskey officials flee after hearing rumors that the Ludington Lucifer is preparing to file FOIA requests with their city.

[XLFD]

Petoskey City officials will not have to check out my form-fitting spandex outfit just yet.  The FOIA request I sent out was to the State Police who got the collar on this batty menace.   

[Mark Wayne Williams]

Just wanted to come on here and personally say THANK YOU. Not only to the torch for writing this story  but to all of the supporters who posted here. This is something that I dont take lightly. I do what I do to help people and will continue to do whatever I can. If the police and courts dont like it, too bad. I believe in doing whats right and thats what I will do whether they want to say its illegal or not. This world needs a change for the better. I may not be able to change it all by myself but I will damn sure try to make a dent. I do have a message for everyone out there: The police, courts, government, etc., they all have so much power over us because we LET them. It is up to every single one of us to do something to change things. We cant just sit back and let them take more and more of our freedoms away. I am NOT anti-government. I AM anti-tyranny. I dont believe anyone has the right to hold power over another human bieng. I dont do what I do to fight crime. I do what I do to HELP people. If I see someone bieng hurt, I will help them. If I see someone hurting another person, I will stop them. I dont care who it is. Right now, more and more, the government just keeps making more and more laws to keep us under control. Im not saying that laws are bad, there not. However, when these laws keep us from holding the government responsible and keep us from doing something, that gives THEM all the power and we basically become slaves. Now with that said, it is up too ALL of us to protect our homes. Not just the houses we live in but our neighborhoods. Our cities. our towns. THAT is how we can take back the power. We do it by doing things for ourselves. If you see someone getting hurt, help them. If you see someone who is hungry, feed them. Just help out your fellow man. Rise up and take back the responsibility that we shurk onto government agencies. Show them that we DONT need to rely on them. This country, this government is supposed to be "BY  THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE". Its time THE PEOPLE took it back.

[Willy]

Well said Mark.