Man dressed as penis arrested after interrupting graduation

By THOMAS DIMOPOULOS
published in The Post-Star, Thursday, June 26, 2008.
Photo by Erin Coker

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The Saratoga Springs High School graduation ceremony was suddenly interrupted Thursday morning when a 19-year-old man dressed as a set of male genitals streaked across the stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Shooting canned string at diploma-bearing graduates, the intruder startled the crowd of nearly 5,000 gathered to see students receive their degrees.

After making his appearance among the senior class, the man leapt off the stage and ran toward the exit gates in an attempt to escape security officers, who were in close pursuit.

He appeared to have some difficulty eluding officers, however, due to the cumbersome layers of his costume, which covered him from head to foot.

He was eventually captured inside a service entrance next to The Hall of Springs nearby after he tripped over the lower extremities of the costume, and was promptly arrested by Saratoga Springs Police.

Calvin Morett, of 337 Pyramid Pine Estates, Wilton, was charged with disorderly conduct, a violation.

Morett was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to return to Saratoga Springs City Court on Tuesday, police said.

He did not get the costume back.

"It has been secured as evidence," said city Police Sgt. Sean Briscoe, who was involved in the foot chase Thursday morning.

Morett was a member of Saratoga Springs High School Class of 2007, and the school yearbook depicts a then-shaggy-haired graduate with the nickname "C-money" as having a fondness for comics, cartoons and the desire to work in the field of art.

As for what he enjoys, the yearbook states: "making people laugh."

Police said the penis outfit was a commercially-purchased inflatable device that came with a battery pack.

When asked if police were looking for accomplices, Briscoe joked, "We believe the gunman acted alone."