Batman and Spider-Man fistfight with heckler prompts police intervention

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/15/batman-spiderman-times-square-fight-police-arrest

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Two costumed characters in Times Square and another man have been arrested after police say they got into a fistfight.

Police say all three were charged with misdemeanor assault.

It happened around 9pm Saturday. Police say the dispute started when the man began heckling the costumed characters dressed as Batman and Spider-Man.

The arrests came amid calls to regulate the costumed characters, who rely on tips to make money. City council member Andy King last week proposed legislation requiring the characters to be licensed and to wear photo IDs.

He says characters could still solicit tips for photos but not in an “aggressive” manner.

In July, a man dressed as Spider-Man hit a police officer who had told a woman she didn’t have to pay for a photo.