The Copycat Rises

Last Updated on June 2, 2020 by

The Copycat Rises should be the title if this if it’s made into a movie.

Ohio police in a Cleveland area movie theater have arrested a man who allegedly tried to smuggle guns, ammunition, and knives into a late-night showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.”  Westlake Police Sgt. Mark Krumheuer said 37-year-old Scott A. Smith, of North Ridgeville, brought a Glock 9mm handgun, ammunition clips, and four knives in a satchel into the 10pm Saturday night showing.  According to reports, the man was arrested without incident and told police that he brought the weapons “for protection.”  He does not have a permit to carry a conceal weapon and even went as far as to offer to put the guns back into his car. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

On Monday, police then discovered that Mr. Smith had collected a small arsenal in his home.  Lt. Ray Arcuri said that his department was still going through everything seized but so far they have uncovered: thousands of rounds of bullets, a gas mask, and several guns, that include pistols, shotguns and rifles.  Police also seized computers from Smith’s home and are awaiting a search warrant to look through the hardware.  Prescription medications were also taken from his home.  In Ohio, if there was a problem with prescription drug abuse it would mean that he would very likely face weapons under disability charges.  As of Tuesday afternoon, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case. All possible charges he could face include four counts of carrying various weapons, one count of carrying a concealed weapon, and one count of having weapons under disability.

Scott is Smith is married with an infant daughter.  Westlake police are still trying to nail down the details on Smith’s personal, medical and work history. He told police he was unemployed but Smith’s wife told police that he worked at some kind of a sleep therapy place.  Smith does not appear to have any criminal history in the area

The scene that unfolded Saturday night could have been much worse.  After Smith had gotten his waist pack past a manager, he went on to sit in the middle of the back row.  Soon after an off-duty police officer Jeremiah Bullins grew suspicious of Smith and followed him into the theater. When he spotted Smith in the back row, Smith had removed the bag from his waist and placed it on the floor.  Bullins asked Smith if he could search his bag and Smith agreed. That’s when he found a loaded 9mm Glock semiautomatic handgun, two additional fully loaded magazines, and three knives. A fourth knife was found elsewhere on Smith.  Also in the bag were a flashlight, medicated bandages that help clot blood, and a capsule that is dropped in fresh water to make it safe to drink.

With the memory of the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shootings still fresh in the nation’s memory, this will most certainly raise more unnecessary panic.  Whether this was a plan to commit a sinister act is still up to debate, but this incident will probably inspire more copycats along with more mayhem. 

Source: Washington Post