Tampa's Nightclub Batman Busted

Far from Gotham City, Batman isn't fighting crime, he's fighting arrest.

Tampa Police say they warned 21-year-old Walsh Ian Nichols not to wear his Batman mask in the streets of Ybor City when he frequents nightclubs. After he refused, they arrested him. He posted $500 bail and went home, but without his Caped Crusader cowl, which was kept as evidence.

Down worry. A superhero always has a backup plan, and in this case that's a spare Batman outfit in the closet.

The St. Petersburg Times reached Nichols at his home and a recording of someone who sounded distinctly like Alfred, Batman's butler, answered the phone.

"Master Walsh will be out late this evening," the recording said. "Please leave your name and phone number."

Nichols subsequently gave the paper an interview. He's a biomedical technician and takes classes at St. Petersburg College. "I used to have a Batgirl," he said. "We split up."

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Photo © Tampa Police Department

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