A Massachusetts man is facing charges after he was spotted outside a city elementary school dressed as a "Star Wars" stormtrooper, complete with fake blaster.
Forty-year-old George Cross donned the white plastic costume and walked near Brickett Elementary School in Lynn on Wednesday.
Cross says he just bought the costume and was walking through the neighborhood showing friends.
But the principal called 911 to report a man with a gun, and the school was briefly locked down.
Man in 'Star Wars' storm trooper costume arrested outside school http://t.co/1d8qGZhxaS pic.twitter.com/q7eF2LjZT0— WWAY NewsChannel 3 (@WWAY) June 5, 2015
"Our feelings are that he was not there to cause harm to the kids, but he used bad judgment," police spokesman Lt. Rick Donnelly told the Salem News. "He did cause a disturbance and we can't tolerate that."
The school's students were kept inside until the man was detained. According to the Salem News, the principal told police she thought the stormtrooper's gun might be plastic, but sounded the alarm since she wasn't sure.
Cross was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty Thursday to disturbing a school and loitering.