'Kris Kringle' Arrested in Florida

While it’s often rumored Santa vacations in Florida during the off season, coming face-to-face with the jolly old elf in a St. Petersburg bar is highly unlikely.

That, however, is who a Seminole man attempted to get St. Petersburg Police Officers to believe he was when they were called out to a 2nd Street North bar just before 3 a.m. on Aug. 24. It seems bar security escorted a patron outside after the man was accused of starting a fight. The man, an arrest report stated, continued to make threats after leaving the establishment and police were called.

Officers who answered that call encountered the man in question a block away from the bar “where he continued his aggressive and belligerent behavior,” the report said. The man “caused a scene,” slung cuss words at officers and refused to calm down, the report noted.

Finding the suspect “highly intoxicated,” with a strong odor of alcohol and watery, bloodshot eyes, officers decided to bring him in on disorderly intoxication charges, the report noted.

That’s when things got weird.

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When officers asked the man his name, he stated he was “Kris Kringle” and insisted his date of birth was Nov. 7, 1935. “Kringle,” the report said, told officers he didn’t have photo identification on him to confirm his questionable claim.

Kris Kringle or not, officers decided to bring the man in on charges related to the ruckus he was accused of creating. When they searched him after arrest, a photo ID was indeed found on his person, the report said.

Not surprisingly, the ID didn’t back up the man’s story.

Casey Adam Arundel, 32, did end up with a second charge for his troubles – providing a false name to law enforcement.

No charges were forthcoming for his attempt to impersonate Santa though. And, his ride to the Pinellas County Jail was by cruiser instead of sleigh. He was booked into the facilities on the two misdemeanor charges and was later released in lieu of $250 bond. Jail records indicate he’s no stranger to the accommodations. He was charged with a DUI in November 2014.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail