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Caped Crusader Fights City Hall

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2009

TAMPA - Batman has had a slew of enemies over the years - The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman - but in Ybor City last year, he added a new nemesis: Tampa police.

Ybor City's version of the Caped Crusader - his real name is Walsh Ian Nichols - was sitting on a curb eating sushi on Oct. 21 when an officer arrested him for wearing a mask on a public street.

Nichols, 21, failed to use a batarang or fancy equipment to escape the officer. Now he is fighting back in court. His lawyer has filed a motion to dismiss, which will be heard next month.

"Law enforcement approached and detained Nichols who was sitting on the curb eating sushi and wearing traditional Batman apparel, complete with cape and partial mask," the motion to dismiss states.

"It was a dark day for the Dark Knight, as he was subsequently placed under arrest for wearing a hood on a public street."

During an interview Friday evening, Nichols said a sergeant in Ybor City had an issue with his costume that caused him to land - Pow! Zap! - in the slammer. The sergeant, Nichols said, had previously advised him to unmask himself and told a fellow officer to arrest him.

The legal argument outlined in the motion is that the law under which Nichols was arrested is aimed at combating hooded Ku Klux Klan members. The law was crafted to stop crime committers, not crime fighters, the motion states.

Josh Poltilove, Samara Sodos

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