A Florida man was arrested Tuesday for bringing a loaded gun into a crowded bar — and he offered some strange excuses before telling police the gun was part of his Halloween costume.
Michael Ribar, 22, was charged with two counts of openly carrying a weapon after concerned partygoers flagged down police on a gunman wearing a bulletproof vest at a tavern in DeLand, a town 40 miles northeast of Orlando.
Police found Ribar sitting in the bar’s crowded dining room shortly before 9 p.m. with a “pistol visible on his right hip,” according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by The Post.
At the officer’s request, Ribar handed over a 9mm semi-automatic, revealing that there was a live round in the chamber, DeLand’s department alleges.
He was also allegedly wearing a mask, a ballistic vest, a motorcycle shirt and a tactical belt, which had a medical kit, two handcuffs and a baton, which led to his second weapons charge.
Ribar allegedly tried several ways to justify bringing a loaded weapon to the bar — including that he had driven straight to the pub from the shooting range and just “threw this,” referring to his open carry holster.
When asked why he didn’t leave the gun in his car, he just shrugged but didn’t answer.
Michael Ribar allegedly brought a loaded semi-automatic handgun into a crowded Florida bar as part of his Halloween costume. Volusia County Branch Jail
He also tried to tell police he found a way to bring the gun into the liquor establishment by positioning himself in the dining room and away from the bartender, the documents allege.
Eventually, Ribar allegedly admitted he thought he could carry the firearm with his tactical duty belt, ballistic vest and mask because they were part of his uniform.
“I thought since it was Halloween I might as well try,” the affidavit quotes him as saying.
The loaded handgun was visible on Ribar’s right hip in an open carry handle, police said. Deland Police Department
Ribar’s girlfriend also threw him under the bus, telling police that he wasn’t actually at the scene of the shooting that day, but went to the bar directly from her house.
She also let go of an important piece of information: that she had decided to wear the dress nearly six hours earlier.
“He asked Ribar if he really wanted to carry his firearm openly with the clothing, to which he stated yes,” the affidavit said.
What Ribar was wearing — and whether he intended to be a police officer or a mass shooter — is unclear.
Ribar’s girlfriend told police he had planned to bring the weapon to the bar as part of his outfit. Deland Police Department
The owner of the bar asked Ribar to leave the property, just before he was arrested.
He was later released after posting a $1,000 bond.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
