Florida Man covered in white paint who claimed he was the 'Joker' arrested for threatening cops with crowbar on August 27
MILTON, FLORIDA: A 29-year-old Florida man, Anthony Moreno, reportedly painted himself white, claiming to be the "Joker," and threatened law enforcement in Milton with a crowbar, on Sunday, August 27.
As per WEAR News, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's officers confronted Moreno while responding to a call about a suspicious person with a crowbar.
Police identified Moreno as the man covered in white paint, claiming to be the "Joker." According to the SRCSO, he was bipolar and schizophrenic, but he had not taken his medication in 10 years.
Moreno was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
What did Anthony Moreno do?
Deputies rushed to the spot near Highway 87 and Ray Helms Road in front of the Best Western after a 911 caller reported seeing a strange man who was covered in white paint and looked like he was going to hurl a crowbar at the caller's car.
Moreno reportedly brandished his crowbar at all three of the deputies as they arrived. He responded to their attempts at negotiation with more threats when they offered him food and drink in exchange for the crowbar.
The Florida man explained to the officers that he was wearing white paint because he was the "Joker."
The deputies claimed that the man was "covered completely in white paint, even under his clothes."
After convincing Moreno to put down the crowbar, the officers were able to arrest him.
The Florida man is being held in the Santa Rosa County jail on a $15,000 total bond.
Who is the 'Joker'?
The term "Joker" refers to Batman's arch-enemy from DC comics, who is known for donning white paint while committing crimes across the fictional Gotham City.
Florida man detained for threatening police in social media video
In a similar incident, another Florida man was detained after publishing a video of himself on social media threatening and cursing at Miami-Dade Police officers.
Vernon E Kelson, 22, uploaded the video on his Instagram account on February Friday, 25.
Miami-Dade police cars with the distinctive markings of those officers observed Kelson holding the firearm outside the passenger-side window of his moving vehicle.
Kelson was discovered and immediately taken into custody, according to the police.
He was accused of making written threats to murder or hurt others, showing a gun while committing a crime and carrying a hidden weapon, according to authorities.