"Tigger" Actor Suspended again

[Sarangel]

Michael Chartrand, acquitted last month on claims he molested a 13-year-old girl while playing Tigger at Walt Disney World, has been suspended again for allegedly battering two park employees, officials said today.

This time, the 36-year-old native of England was playing Goofy. The alleged battery occurred Aug. 24 at Animal Kingdom and involved two employees of Kodak who take pictures of park patrons, Orange County sheriff's Captain Bernie Presha said.

The Kodak employees claim that Chartrand, wearing a Goofy costume, approached them and shoved them each in the chest.

The employees, whose names were not released, thought that the Goofy character was a friend of theirs who was joking around. But they thought it was unlike their friend to shove them. When they saw the Goofy character take off his head, they knew it was not their friend and complained to supervisors, who contacted Disney officials.

Presha said that the State Attorney's Office would decide whether to file misdemeanor charges against Chartrand. A sheriff's report had not yet been written because detectives were back-logged as a result of the recent hurricanes, he said.

Chartrand's attorney from his Tigger case, Jeffrey Kaufman, said that these new claims were bogus. He said Disney sees Chartrand as a liability and is using this false claim as an attempt to get rid of him.

"Of course he was goofing around because he was Goofy!" Kaufman said, who added that the two Kodak employees shoved Chartrand back, as part of routine horseplay among cast members and greeters meant to entertain patrons.

"That's the joke about this," Kaufman said. "You're supposed to fool around, be animated. I knew for Michael it would tough for him to go back. I told him he would be a walking bull's-eye. Now, it's goofy gone wild.

"He just can't catch a break."

Disney suspended Chartrand approximately two weeks ago, pending an investigation, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, business agent for Teamsters Local 385, the union that represents costumed characters.

Disney suspended Chartrand earlier this year after a 13-year-old girl accused him of fondling her while he was dressed as Tigger at the Magic Kingdom. A jury acquitted Chartrand of those charges, and Disney allowed him to return to work on Aug. 6. Dalton said Chartrand was suspended again on Sept. 1.

 

[Darwineffect]

where did this info come from, because I haven't seen it on any of the local news shows (I'm in Orlando) or in the newspaper.

 

[jlima]

Just saw this story on the Orlando Sentinel website.

 

[Darwineffect]

yep me too, sorry, can't believe how slow the locals were on this

 

[Twende]

Here is the link for CNN on this man:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/09/16/disney.molest.ap/index.html






'Goofy' accused of shoving 2 at Disney
Thursday, September 16, 2004 Posted: 10:24 AM EDT (1424 GMT)




ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- A Walt Disney World worker who was acquitted of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while dressed as Tigger has been suspended again, accused of shoving two people while in a Goofy costume.

His lawyer said the man was just "goofing around because he was Goofy."

Two photographers at Disney's Animal Kingdom said Michael Chartrand came up to them in his Goofy costume and shoved each in the chest, Orange County Sheriff's Capt. Bernie Presha said Wednesday.

The photographers, a male and female whose names were not released, work for Kodak at the park.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Chartrand was suspended August 30 and would remain so indefinitely. Chartrand also could face misdemeanor charges.





The rest of the article is on the link!

 

[princess&tig]

hursday, September 16, 2004 Posted: 10:24 AM EDT (1424 GMT)



Michael Chartrand was just playing around when he shoved two photographers, his lawyer says.



ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- A Walt Disney World worker who was acquitted of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while dressed as Tigger has been suspended again, accused of shoving two people while in a Goofy costume.

His lawyer said the man was just "goofing around because he was Goofy."

Two photographers at Disney's Animal Kingdom said Michael Chartrand came up to them in his Goofy costume and shoved each in the chest, Orange County Sheriff's Capt. Bernie Presha said Wednesday.

The photographers, a male and female whose names were not released, work for Kodak at the park.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Chartrand was suspended August 30 and would remain so indefinitely. Chartrand also could face misdemeanor charges.

Jeffrey Kaufman, Chartrand's attorney in the Tigger case, said the new claims were bogus.

"Goofy is always playful," Kaufman told the Orlando Sentinel. "Of course he was goofing around because he was Goofy!"

Earlier this year, Disney suspended Chartrand after a 13-year-old accused him of fondling her while he was dressed as Tigger. A jury acquitted Chartrand of those charges, and Disney let him return to work August 6.

Kaufman said Disney sees Chartrand as a liability and is using a false claim against him. He also said the two Kodak employees shoved Chartrand back, as part of routine horseplay among cast members and greeters meant to entertain patrons.

"That's the joke about this," Kaufman said. "You're supposed to fool around, be animated. I knew for Michael it would be tough for him to go back. I told him he would be a walking bull's-eye."

Chartrand, 36, a native of England, had been living at his sister's home in nearby Kissimmee but was not there Wednesday. His sister, Fran Chartrand, referred all inquiries to Kaufman.

 

[King Triton]

Don't put him in a villain costume!!!!! He'll use the excuse that he was just being evil.

 

[lenshanem]

Sounds like they just trying to get rid of him. Understandable, the original charges were rough.