Some beach-goers were freaked out…
CRAIGVILLE – Police received at least one call about a man at the beach wearing a military gas mask and camouflaged backpack this afternoon.
It seemed odd at the very least…
Before police arrived, the man started walking Craigville Beach Road still wearing his gas mask, which slowed traffic and drew more attention…
Officers eventually found the man after he took the mask off and walked into Craigville Sub & Pizza to get something to eat.
Officers quickly learned the young man had a very innocent maturity level and didn’t mean, nor was capable of, any harm.
Apparently the young man is a collector of military gear and had purchased the Russian military gas mask online. He was playing an online video game with a friend from Russia who bet he wouldn’t wear it to the beach.
Police checked his backpack just to make sure and the young man showed them his first aid kit. He seemed very proud that he was well prepared for just about every eventuality.
HN spoke with the young man after and he modeled his mask. He was a nice young man and his intentions were purely innocent. He told me that after speaking with police he wasn’t going to wear his mask in public ever again.
He apologized for the cammo and mask, because it really wasn’t his intention to cause alarm.
(Personally, meeting this very friendly young hobbyist made my day. I think he’d be the first to jump in with his first aid kit if someone stubbed their toe or something. Good man! Today reminded me of when, as a child, we use to run around wearing WWII military helmets, taking prisoners with our flashlights, my little sisters were always the Russian Commies by default … good times!)
8/15/2014
Robert Bastille,
P.S. – Today's HyTown Vignette is brought to you by the Beatles... [Blast it]
