The Santa Cruz Police warned the public about seeing Cookie Monster – and, no, it’s not because they want to become killjoys.
Locals and tourists alike have raised concerns and complaints regarding a costume-clad man posing as a Cookie Monster mascot.
And while this might seem like innocent fun and a cool children’s attraction, the police department didn’t want to take a chance.
You might think that mascots are supposed to be fun and exciting, especially for kids.
Sure, it is, and the little ones easily get giddy when they find one roaming around.
Their first instinct would be to say hi to the mascot and give a high five.
Others – children and adults alike – would want to have their photos taken with them.
After all, it’s the closest thing to having a fictional character come to life.
So why are they wary of this one? Because this Cookie Monster made people uncomfortable.
The Santa Cruz Police Department posted a warning on their Facebook page that they have received reports about this Cookie Monster wandering in the Beach and Wharf areas.
Some passersby asked to have their photos taken and were okay.
However, others felt uncomfortable, and some claimed they got shouted at.
Police identified him as Adam Sandler. No, not the comedian, nor are they related.
Even businesses around the Wharf area witnessed how this Cookie Monster is not as fun as the one from Sesame Street.
In the comments section, the SCPD continued to warn people that Adam was “widely known for antagonistic antics in tourist locations. Wharf businesses have witnessed and complained that he’s yelling and irrationally acting out toward customers.”
This wasn’t the first time Adam received such complaints, not just in Santa Cruz.
He had a long history of wearing costumes and harassing people.
In 2012, he was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
He allegedly shouted anti-Semitic comments in Central Park’s Zoo in New York.
At that time, he was wearing an Elmo costume.
In 2015, he also had a history as the “Evil Elmo” in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf Area and Embarcadero Pier.
The complaints against him were the same.
Adam, in an interview with KRON4 News, believed all the allegations against him were a harassment scheme for a pharmaceutical company.
That, of course, wasn’t true.
Then, he transferred to Los Angeles, changing his persona to Cookie Monster.
According to LAPD detective Jeana Franco, he was there for six months, and people have complained a lot about him.
She said that he was becoming a “national nuisance.”
While he may have records in other cities and states, the SCPD could not arrest him since he technically hadn’t committed a crime.
However, they told the public, especially parents, that if they want to have their photos taken with Cookie Monster, they do it at their own risk.
They also encouraged the public to report any untoward incident to their department immediately.
On the other hand, Adam said he was only exercising his first amendment rights and not harming anyone.
We only hope it wouldn’t reach that point. Still, it’s better to be careful and vigilant.
Watch the video below for the full news report about this Cookie Monster man.
