'Oh My God, Don't Shoot the Banana!'

Banana Boy Arrested After Faux Fight

from The Associated Press

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. - Banana Boy's superpowers weren't enough to help him and the rest of his bunch give police the slip.

The local television character, who goes by the name Chris Phelps, 20, when he's not donning his superhero's large yellow banana crime-fighting costume, was arrested Thursday at gunpoint along with two others when police mistook their skit for a real-life knife fight.

During the skit, Banana Boy was attacked by friend Luke Van Scoy with a prop knife just as Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Shawn Lovelace was driving down the street.

"He's stabbing him," bystanders yelled as Lovelace got out of his patrol car.

Unaware the melee was staged, Lovelace drew his handgun and ordered Banana Boy and his colleagues to the ground. They complied — quickly.

"I said, 'Oh my God, don't shoot the banana,'" said Steven Wilson, who was watching the skit being filmed when Lovelace came upon the scene with his gun drawn. "It was the funniest thing I've ever seen."

Police said Banana Boy and the others were charged with disorderly conduct for snarling traffic and not informing police they were going to be filming.

Banana Boy, who was still in costume when he was picked up by his father at the police station Thursday, said he believes the entire incident with police was caught on tape by his brother, adding the show will be aired Saturday.