Costumed Batman points gun and runs

ALBANY, Ga. — A routine escort to a bank turned into a confrontation with an armed man dressed as Batman for an Albany Police Department officer, a police report stated.

No injuries were reported.

Officer Todd Barbree followed a Captain D’s Seafood employee in his patrol car to an East Albany SB&T Bank so she could safely make the restaurant’s receipts deposit at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Barbree “heard a noise and told the employee to get back in her vehicle,” APD spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said. “(Barbree) grabbed a flashlight, left his patrol car and drew his weapon.”

The armed man in Batman costume, complete with mask, cape and black pants, stood up from bushes at the 2102 E. Oglethorpe Blvd. bank, the report stated. The man saw Barbree and started running.

According to Banks, “Barbree yelled for the suspect to stop. The suspect turned and pointed a gun at the officer. The officer fired one round at the suspect, and the suspect continued to flee the scene.”

While running away, the suspect dropped evidence, Banks said. She would not say what evidence, which she said was part of the investigation.

The man in the Batman costume was described as black, 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 160 to 180 pounds. Anyone with additional information is asked to call investigations at (229) 431-3288 or Crime Stoppers at (229) 436-TIPS (8477). The Spanish-speaking APD-COP Tip Line is (229) 434-2677.