Nov. 18 headlines: The guy who stole the Homer the Dragon costume heads to court
The case of Joe Gillespie, the guy who stole the Homer the Dragon costume and went out on the town a couple of months ago, is heading to Superior Court.
The backstory
Gillespie stole the costume — he says he was only borrowing it — in September after he passed out in BB&T Stadium following a beer festival. He proceeded to bar hop around uptown, as one usually does in a mascot costume.
He was later arrested, and faces theft and breaking an entering charges. He told his story to Creative Loafing’s Ryan Pitkin. And last month, we were there when he got his mullet tamed.
Joe’s story went somewhat viral. I thought it was funny. But the courts aren’t laughing: Both charges are felonies.
What’s next
His first appearance in Superior Court is expected to be in the near future. Until then, I imagine he’ll just keep doing his thing.
I like making people laugh and beer…cause who doesn't like beer and laughter?
— Joe Gillespie (@YouAlreadyJoe) November 10, 2015
In other headlines …
– County commissioners approved giving a developer $4 million to build an extension of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway between Tyvola Road and Huntingtowne Farms Park, less than a mile. This is part of the last 5 miles of the greenway that will stretch out to I-485, and will eventually become part of the 26-mile Cross Charlotte Trail.
– A plan to turn a South Boulevard firehouse into office or retail space was approved by the City Council Monday, as was another South End development. Also in South End: Orangetheory Fitness is opening a new studio.
– Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke to a sold-out crowd of 4,000 at Davidson College Monday night. Coates has built his writing reputation on his ability to mine America’s past, both recent and distant, to locate the roots of our present racial disparities, and that’s exactly what he did Monday, Pam Kelley writes.
– Panthers athletic trainer Jean-Baptiste Laporte wore a shirt with a large French flag on it during Sunday’s game for his mother and close childhood friends that live in Paris.
– This Cam Newton dancing thing is getting out of hand. Tennessee mom: Think about the children! Panthers fan: Umm … he does think about the children. Meanwhile, the Panthers are 9-0 and I’m pretty sure Mr. Newton doesn’t care what you think about his dancing.
Photo: Katie Toussaint
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Nov. 18 headlines: The guy who stole the Homer the Dragon costume heads to court."