Man dressed as 'The Joker' arrested in Virginia

WINCHESTER, Va. - A man carrying a sword and dressed as the “The Joker” was arrested in Virginia Friday afternoon, police said.

According to Winchester police, several emergency calls were made at around 2 p.m. about a suspicious man seen wearing a black cape and armed with a sword walking along Papermill Road and South Pleasant Valley Road. Responding officers would arrest 31-year-old Jeremy Putman and charge him for wearing a mask in public.

Wearing a mask, hood or any other type of device that covers or hides a person’s face in public is a felony crime in Virginia and can result in punishment of up to five years in jail, police said according to Virginia Code 18.2-422:

Police said they received several other similar reports over the past week, but do not believe there are any other suspects.

Putman is being held on $2,000 bond.