Masked Man Arrested in Spotsy

If police in horror films were this attentive, those films might be a bit more boring. 

A 20-year-old man was arrested on Sunday evening after a Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Deputy spotted him wearing a white Jason Mask while walking along the side of a road wearing a halloween mask.

Around 10:37 p.m. on Sunday, Deputy Justin Wilson was dispatched to the vicinity of Salem Church Road and Danielle Drive to check out a report of suspicious looking black man who was seen wearing a white mask in the style of iconic horror film mass murderer Jason. After locating the man, Spotsylvania resident Altonio Devon Cromes, Jr., Deputy Wilson ordered the masked man to stop and place his hands behind his back. Cromes did not immediately obey, but eventually complied with Wilson's commands. In the process, Cromes became beligerent, according to a report filed with the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office, and Wilson arrested the man, charging him with one felonious count of wearing a mask in public. 

Cromes was taken to Rappahannock Regional Jail where he was held on a $7,500 secured bond. 

Virginia is one of eight states which outlaws the wearing of masks in public. According to section 18.2-422 of Virginia's laws, people over the age of 16 may not wear masks in public, save for a few exceptions for holiday festivities, those with respiretory conditions, and those who are participating in theatrical productions. Violations are a class six felony, punishable by jail time and fines up to $2,500.