Easter Bunny incident
could bring assault charge
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — For those who may have witnessed an assault involving the Easter Bunny at Walmart Saturday — especially children — police have confirmed not a hair was injured on the furry fellow.
The Presque Isle Police Department was notified of an assault at the store around 3:28 p.m. on March 31. Officer Peter Johnson was assigned to investigate.
A store employee told police “a customer had assaulted the Easter Bunny.” No one knew the identity of the assailant, who was described as a young male wearing a dark gray hoodie, with red and black plaid pajama pants. According to the police log, “before body checking the bunny, the male put on a camo face mask.”
The case was solved later that afternoon when four local men claimed responsibility for the incident. The men were identified as: Connor Fitzpatrick, 19, of Washburn; and Presque Isle residents Jeremy Tweedie, 19, Kyle Murray, 19, and Justin Dyer, 21.
According to the police log, Fitzpatrick admitted he “was the individual in the aisle that tackled Jeremy while he was sitting on the bunny’s lap.” The log indicated the four men knew the store employee who was in the costume and “thought it would be funny.”
“This appears to be a prank, with the possible intent to post a video online,” said Sgt. Mark Barnes, PIPD.
According to Cpl. Wayne Selfridge, PIPD, the men now find themselves in a serious situation, facing possible assault charges. The case remains under investigation.
