 A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was attacked in Orlando early Thursday by a man wearing a Darth Vader mask. Michael Cole, 28, of Orlando, was arrested on felony charges of resisting arrest and battery on an officer.| Attempted a Jedi death-grip-and-lift? |
According to the FHP, a construction worker informed the trooper around 2:45 a.m. of an intoxicated man wearing a Darth Vader mask who was walking in the middle of a road near Summerlin Avenue and Anderson Street.| At least he was smart enough not to get into his TIE fighter. |
| Flfying while intoxicated is an offense, after all. |
The trooper approached the masked man, later identified as Cole, and repeatedly asked him to get out of the road. Cole instead cursed at the trooper and laid in the roadway, authorities said.| "This is not the drunk you're looking for." |
The trooper then told Cole to get up, but he attemtped to punch and kick the trooper, who deployed his Taser, according to the FHP. Officials said Cole's thick jacket prevented the Taser from working, so the trooper used pepper spray to subdue him.| Pepper spray behind a Darth Vader mask? Ouch. |
Local 6 News captured video showing the man screaming while being placed onto a stretcher.| "The Emperor will hear of this!" |
Cole complained of shortness of breath and was taken to Florida Hospital South. He was later released and booked into the Orange County Jail. The trooper was not injured. |