“Florida man” strikes again, and this time it’s for breakfast.
This particular Florida man’s love of pancakes led to his trouble with the law earlier this week when he was arrested for eating flapjacks in the middle of the road. His actions—sitting in the middle of the road and eating pancakes (along with maple syrup) on a foldable chair and TV table—obstructed traffic on a busy central Florida street.
Police say they were summoned to the area after receiving reports of a man fitting his description, but arrived too late to arrest him. After a video was posted to Facebook of the man, they were able to track down 21-year-old Kiaron Thomas and arrest him for his actions.
Wearing nothing more than a pair of fuzzy slippers and green pajama bottoms, Thomas can be seen enjoying his pancakes as vehicles are forced to stop and navigate their way around his breakfast repast. But some drivers didn’t seem to mind too much, as the person who recorded and uploaded the film can be heard laughing hysterically at what he’s seeing.
When police caught up with Thomas at his home about 100 yards away from the scene of the crime, he told them he’d done it as a prank. But nevertheless, Thomas was charged with “disrupting the free flow of traffic.”
Police posted news of their high stakes arrest on social media. He’s expected to appear in court in April.
If Florida seems like a hotbed of crazy news, it’s in part because of its unique “sunshine laws” that make all government business a matter of public concern. With very few exceptions, almost all records are free for the public and members of the press to dig into, including police arrests.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.