Early Thursday morning at 2:45 a.m., a construction worker informed a Florida Highway Patrol trooper that there was a drunk Darth Vader walking in the road in Orlando, the FHP reports. It was Michael Cole, a 28-year-old who had donned a Star Wars mask and appeared to be intoxicated.
According to the arrest affidavit, the trooper asked Cole to move off the road. Cole did not comply and instead, hurled profanities at the trooper. After Cole suddenly lied down in the roadway, the arresting trooper wrote, he told Cole to get up and instead Cole attempted to punch and kick him.
The trooper tased Cole in response, but the Taser had no effect through Cole's thick winter coat. Eventually, Cole lay down again, and the trooper was able to put him in handcuffs.
But despite the handcuffs, Cole continued to kick the trooper, who said he warned Cole to calm down or else he would use pepper spray. When Cole continued kicking, the trooper used his pepper spray and Cole finally surrendered to the arrest.
Complaining of shortness of breath, Cole was transported to Florida Hospital South for medical evaluation before being taken to jail. He is charged with felony resisting arrest and felony battery on a police officer.
NBCMiami reports that "FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said no cape or lightsaber were found at the scene, but did say that Cole's mom came and picked up his Vader mask."
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Cole's mother Doreen Williams said her son's errant behavior was not caused by alcohol but by a manic episode. Cole is undergoing psychological observation.
Cole was previously charged with DUI and other incidents of battery on a law enforcement officer, according to his inmate history report.