'Cookie Monster' arrested after he 'pushed a child to the ground in Times Square when his mother refused to give him a tip'
Police arrested a man dressed as the Cookie Monster in Times Square on Sunday after he allegedly shoved a two-year-old boy when his mom refused to give him a tip.
Queens resident Osvaldo Quiroz-Lopez, 33, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child after the mother told police he became aggressive when she took a picture of him with her son.
Quiroz-Lopez was arraigned Monday on charges including aggressive begging. He didn't enter a plea.
Osvaldo Quiroz-Lopez, 33, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child after the mother told police he became aggressive when she took a picture of him with her son
The Connecticut mother said he demanded $2 and started pushing her boy when she refused to pay.
He then began to verbally assault the woman, swearing at her and calling her son names, according to the New York Post.
It was then that he pushed the child to the ground. The two-year-old was not injured.
Quiroz-Lopez has no prior arrests. His lawyer hasn't returned a message seeking comment.
In February, another Times Square impersonator was arrested for assaulting a tourist.
Phillip Williams, 35, was dressed as Spiderman when he posed with a woman's children. When she told him she did not have any money for the picture he allegedly punched her in the face.
In December 2012, a performer dressed as a Super Mario Brother was accused of groping a woman in Times Square. His case is pending.
And, also in 2012, a fellow Sesame Street impersonator who was dressed up as Elmo was arrested after spewing racist rants in between posing with children.