BANGOR, Maine — A Waterville man who made a comment about the recent shootings in Colorado while buying tickets for a Wednesday showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” found himself the subject of a police search.
The Bangor incident came on the heels of the July 20 shooting rampage in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater in which 12 people were killed and nearly 60 others wounded. The suspect in that case, 24-year-old doctoral student James Eagen Holmes, is awaiting arraignment.
The tragedy has spawned three other arrests around the nation, including one in Maine that involved a Biddeford man who reportedly brought a loaded gun to the Batman movie at a Saco theater.
The incident in Bangor happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. at Bangor Mall Cinemas 10, Bangor police Sgt. Garry Higgins said Thursday, citing a police report.
According to the police report, while buying tickets for a showing later that night, the man asked at what point during the movie did the Colorado shootings occur. The man and his daughter then left the theater.
When they returned about 10 p.m., worried theater employees called police, who found the man inside the cinema.
After confirming the man did not have any weapons in his possession, police escorted the man out of the cinema, Higgins said.
The man was not charged in connection with the incident and he did receive a refund for the tickets he purchased.
Higgins said Wednesday that although no one was hurt and the episode did not result in an arrest, theater staff took the appropriate action.
“They’re all on high alert about this right now,” he said. “If they see anything out of the ordinary, they are going to take appropriate action, as they should do.”
People just CAN’T keep their mouth shut.
Guess “The Man” with the careless mouth will have to wait for it to show up at RedBox.
yea but not even that good by far the worst of the 3, just wait and netflix and save you 20 bucks
Mouths? Or fingers typing on comment sections either.
What did this guy think was gonna happen?? Just brush it off? Kinda a stupid move buddy! Shocked they refunded the tickets! :)
Its there policy to refund if you get kicked out. Always has been.
I’ve never been kicked out so I didnt know :)
yeah, i’ll bet mom had a few choice words when he got home with her.
Funny guy’s daughter must have been real proud of dear old Dad.
he should have been allowed to watch the movie. he did nothing wrong.
and after he said something so stupid, if it was ignored and he did something……..the lawsuits begin.
He was stupid for saying what he said. A grown man should know better. Apparently he did not.
“Because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn” -Alfred Pennyworth
well done, Dane.
Did you read the story? All he did was ask when during the movie the shooting occurred. He didn’t make light of it. He didn’t make threats. He wasn’t carrying weapons. Nothing in the report indicates he was doing anything strange or threatening. So we can’t ask questions about tragedies without having our civil rights trampled?
Personally I’d want to know when the shooting started too, especially if I have my kid with me, since the media keeps talking about possible copycats etc.
I’m actually going to stick to the cheap-seats now. I wouldn’t want to say the wrong combination of words at the Bangor Mall cinema and get the police called on me.
You are right-he probably should have. Most folks who’ve flown since 911 realize that you can’t take something back after you say it. If you visit the New York 911 memorial it’s no different-no kidding around. We live in a world with a whole lot of people who have every reason to be cautious.
could he have been trying to find out what part of the movie to avoid? the movie starts at 9:30 or 10: 30 what if he wanted to avoid the “dangerous part ” just after 9:30 with his kid? the shooting was at the start.. just thinking ~
Exactly! I think it’s a valid question!
Here’s a thought; if your trying to avoid the dangerous part, why take your daughter to that movie at all??? plain and simple this guy made a stupid remark.
Just avoid dumb movies, with dumb people. Simple.
remand the daughter to state custody
I do hope you are joking.
no
That’s sad.
Nobody should lose their child just because they ask a question.
Kinda late for the police to be on “high alert”. BTW, does the theater have a “no weapons” policy?
Should have.
Scouting for the next “Joker”?
Further evidence that we have become a nation of cowardice. Looks like the terrorists got their wish.
Actually no, because if he did something stupid and the theater heard the comments and did nothing they they are liable. This isn’t about cowardice, not even close.
Right up there with making bomb jokes on a plane.
I wonder if he is the type of person that makes bomb jokes as he’s going through airport security?
Maybe TSA could also stand for Theater Security Asministration? We could start performing the same sort of searches on people going to see a movie as we do on those who attempt to fly.
Makes just as much sense.
“theater staff took the appropriate action.” You have got to be kidding. If this piece is accurate all he did was ask at what point during the movie did the Colorado shootings occur. No threats, no costumes, no weapons, NO NOTHING.
“If they see anything out of the ordinary, they are going to take appropriate action, as they should do.”
Does this mean that anyone with red hair will warrant a call to police? If they overhear me talking with a friend about our plans to go target shooting tomorrow will that be justification for calling the police?
Whatever employee caused this should be fired. If they are that paranoid they should not be dealing with the public.
Exactly what I was going to say. Maybe they should worry more about CLEANING their theater and their customer service and not about simple questions. It’s human nature to be curious, and all he did was ask a question. Pretty harmless.
Contact Susan she is the general Manager, she will deal with issues as customer service. Enjoy your day.
To quote Forrest Gump … “stupid is as stupid does”… maybe folks in the theater business might be a little touchy about mass murdering freaks given the dude in Biddeford plans. It’s a little too close to home. As for me, I’ll wait till redbox has it…
No they did the exactly the right thing. They felt that the situation called for his removal. If anything happened at all during that movie with him then the theater would have been liable. He got refunded.
Are you the manager on that night because your sticking up for them real good
No, not even there, but a responsible business owner this was the right thing to do. Would you gamble your business on this? No better safe then sorry.
I have had several of my clients come in and say things like that. I would not call the cops on them.
The point is that there was no situation.
Other than what existed in the mind of the employee. I would say that the employee is the one that should be taken out and questioned. If this innocuous question had them fearing for their safety then I would say it is the employee’s mental state that should be looked at. Is this employee stable mentally? Does this employee have a mental disorder? Should this employee interact with the public? What will this employee do if some one smiles at them too much? Or scowls? Or stares?
You go by your gut, the gut said there could be an issue. He got a refund. This is a private business that made sure they were protected.
A certain employee needs their “gut” examined.
maybe he really wanted to know and meant nothing by it.
I’ll be going to a different theater to see the movie.
Do not waste your money its not that great. Hunger games is still the best yet
Hunger Games can’t hold a a candle to Avengers. Hulk’s “Puny God!” Best line in a movie since Darth Vader’s, “I am your father.”
Honestly – having not seen the movie myself I would be curious to know the same thing! Once he was searched and was found to not have any weapons on him, he should have been allowed to see the movie. I understand everyone was/is on high alert. But, I don’t see this being a threatening statement, just a guy who is curious….
This man is not accused of making any direct threats, had no weapons, and as far as the article is concerned was cooperative with staff and the police… And yet for all that he was removed… I dont see anything about the daughter getting outed at all… Anyone else see a potential lawsuit?? Bet somewhere out there an empty suit is drooling over his/her desk in anticipation…
Its a private business, they have the right to kick people out.
Yes they do, but they should have asked him what he meant. Any other movie theater would have, but when you got young kids managing that is what happens
What if they were gay?
It would make the story a little more interesting….
I was at the theater when this all happened. The manager took it the wrong way, and the manager should no longer be there working as for what she said to him. Its totally wrong, she took it out of content and decided lets call the cops. Did he says anything about threats. Bangor police responded as they would and did there little up and go and kicked him out. Never again will i purchase tickets or go to this movie theatre.
Overreaction? Also by you.
This is not the first time that this certain Manager has done something to someone else to get them kicked out. You dont like my comment, do not read it, overreaction a little about yourself. Peace out
What happened “to get them kicked out” is on the father, NOT theater management.
You are very right on that point, but this manager has done it to two other individuals i know, they were kicked out for no reason. They took it out the wrong contex
Nothing happens for no reason. If the theater does nothing and something actually happens they are liable.
Well ill tell you what ill send a good buddy of mine in and have him record her kicking someone out , she is young and she is obnoxious
You can’t fix stupid
Lepage was right, we will be “showing our papers” before long in this country.
The type of guy that yells “Hi, Jack!” to people at the airport.
What kind of world is this when I can’t say “hi” to my brother on a plane?
Knowing a friend by the name Jack, I asked him the same question. He has simply said, “Please respond Hello Jack or some response of greeting other than “hi””.
It gives a whole new meaning to shouting “fire” in a crowded theater, doesn’t it?
The slippery slope is nothing but down hill. It HAS begun.
now that does qualify as a stupid thing to do.. perhaps he thought it was a funny comment somehow.. or he just plain doesn’t get it
This is very strange. The theater realized the man was suspicious. So rather than go on alert at the moment the comment was made or to try to diffuse the situation by asking the gentleman if he bothered to consider if his words could be misconstrued. The theater instead at 10pm showing waited for the man to enter the theater?
If a person is homicidal in that fashion, you stop them at the door! Not after they are seated. Too have handled this in the fashion it was only would leave other patrons semi relieved yet maybe more concerned about what is happening.
This smells more like the ticket person didnt bother to bring it up till afterwards when they were cashing out. That was when the “management” may have pressed the ticket person for more info. The ticket person replied “oh yeah, they came back, I saw them come in (or some such story)”. The management would be some what incredulous about the ticket person. Realizing the situation it became too much after the fact.
The theater should have rehearsed the situation with its employees for a scenario of what should be done. They should have told management when the comment was made. Management should have contacted the police before the 10pm movie. The police could have interviewed the man as he came in.
Mind you this is only my opinion of what may have happened and have no positive knowledge of the circumstances. I welcome your opinions as I am sure they differ from mine.
It may be that they didn’t think a lot of the question when first asked, but when he returned at a time nearer the Aurora event time, that might’ve raised the red flag? If someone shows up for the early show, then decides after hearing the shooting took place after mid-night that they’d rather take a later show closer to the time of the tragic event, that’s at least a little strange.
Just asking what time the event happened? We’ll be evacuating places left and right if we start responding to every question or comment with no actual threats. Reminds me of the post Anthrax Scare mini-scares, any time someone couldn’t figure out how some powder got somewhere they called out the troops, with no thought regarding credible threat analysis.
This is a scary world we live in and after the tragic events in Colorodo I think the Manager took the right steps… it may seem a bit drastic to have him searched and removed but people will be copying the man in Colorodo and if someone were going to copy him he would want to do it at the same time during the movie. The man showed very poor judgement to ask that question at the theater.
Because god forbid he may have wanted to know when the shooting occurred so that he can get ready to bail w/ his kid if someone decided to copy-cat.
Sheeple.
All foolishness
FRom what I’ve heard, the movie continued on while this guy was shooting. I’d be curious what was on the screen when the killing spree occurred.
I guess I should escort myself out of my house now. Sorry.. I shouldn’t have wondered.. what was I thinking?
Well that’s just ridiculous. The theater patron was a customer, who did nothing wrong. He asked a question. I, myself, made an off-hand comment the other day that I would be going to see the movie “as soon as my Kevlar vest came in.”
Come on. We all feel bad about what happened. But come on…
Spot on….distasteful comments are the mainstay for any reputable stand up comedian…..
Funny, when I read this comment, I was about 15 minutes into last night’s (recorded) airing of Comedy Central’s Roast of Bob Sagat…
Chris Rock once quoted George Carlin saying “A comedian’s job is to find the line in the sand…and then cross over it.”
I hope he gets a lawyer and sues both the theater and the police department..
My God people all he did was ask a question.
They should have searched everyone in the place, beacuse just going to the movie is a searchable offence, I guess.
Of course he wasn’t charged, all he did was ask a question. fear mongering
Metal detectors at the entrance to the ticket area would have resolved this with out police intervention.
Ludicrous arguments. If you want to be safe, stay home in your bed and not in your bathtub, with your finger on the speed dial for 911. With the reasoning going on here, every patron should’ve been taken outside and strip searched while dogs came in for a sweep of the theater to be absolutely sure there were no accomplices.
I must be missing something. I’m reading this as a father asked the clerk what time the incident had occurred. Was it because he wanted to return “after” that specific time in fear of copy cats? I guess I missed the part where he threatened the patrons? But I suppose some on here are probably right, if he was afraid he should have stayed home. I hope that is not the direction our country is going in, to start avoiding life because we are afraid. But a side effect of crazy evil people I suppose:(
You missed nothing. He didn’t threaten anyone. You’re not allowed to ask questions anymore. Just shut up and do what you’re told.
This is stupid. policeState++;
what a dumb head.
Exactly … my two year old couldn’t have said it any better.
I don’t get why people are defending that guy. That is a very odd thing to say in the first place, let alone leave and then come back later. Of course they were suspicious! They did the right thing by calling the cops.