- Dec 14, 2000
- 68,143
- 10
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http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=/20070215/BREAKINGNEWS/70215033/1086
ORLANDO -- No charges will be filed against the man accused of punching a boy at a Disney theme park while dressed as Tigger, FLORIDA TODAY news partner WKMG Local 6 News reported.
Michael J. Fedelem, 31, won't face any charges after the state attorney's office reviewed a video of the alleged incident, which was taped last month by the father of the 14-year-old boy.
The video showed Tigger apparently punching Jerry Monaco Jr. in the face and knocking him back, and prompted an Orange County sheriff's investigation into the incident.
"You don't come here for this," father Jerry Monaco said. "Disney is supposed to be a safe place. It is supposed to be a place where you come and spend time with your family. How hard did he hit you, (son)?"
"Pretty hard," Jerry Monaco Jr. replied. "I could still feel it even though he was wearing the padded gloves."
Monaco Sr. said he noticed the alleged attack was unprovoked after looking at the video.
"At first I was upset at my son," Monaco Sr. said. "I thought he did something to Tigger. But then I review it, and it is pretty clear. For no reason, he just clocked him in the face."
Monaco Jr. said he did not provoke the attack and just had his arm around the costumed character when the incident happened.
"No provoking at all," Monaco said. "It was just out of the blue."
Disney officials called the family, Local 6 reported last month.
"I just wanted to follow up with you and let you know that we have spoken to the cast member in question and have reacted very strongly toward him," a man who identified himself as Jean Erik Redrupp, general manager of Park Operations at Disney-MGM Studios, said in a phone recording.
"The general manager apologized to me," Monaco Sr. said. "Everybody will come up and apologize to me but Tigger. He won't be a man about it and get out of the costume and come out and apologize to my son. I didn't want VIP treatment. I didn't want an extra day at Disney. I didn't want any of that. I wanted him to apologize and that is the one thing that they won't do."
Fedelem was suspended by Disney pending the investigation, according to an AP report
good. hopefully he will get his job back soon.
ORLANDO -- No charges will be filed against the man accused of punching a boy at a Disney theme park while dressed as Tigger, FLORIDA TODAY news partner WKMG Local 6 News reported.
Michael J. Fedelem, 31, won't face any charges after the state attorney's office reviewed a video of the alleged incident, which was taped last month by the father of the 14-year-old boy.
The video showed Tigger apparently punching Jerry Monaco Jr. in the face and knocking him back, and prompted an Orange County sheriff's investigation into the incident.
"You don't come here for this," father Jerry Monaco said. "Disney is supposed to be a safe place. It is supposed to be a place where you come and spend time with your family. How hard did he hit you, (son)?"
"Pretty hard," Jerry Monaco Jr. replied. "I could still feel it even though he was wearing the padded gloves."
Monaco Sr. said he noticed the alleged attack was unprovoked after looking at the video.
"At first I was upset at my son," Monaco Sr. said. "I thought he did something to Tigger. But then I review it, and it is pretty clear. For no reason, he just clocked him in the face."
Monaco Jr. said he did not provoke the attack and just had his arm around the costumed character when the incident happened.
"No provoking at all," Monaco said. "It was just out of the blue."
Disney officials called the family, Local 6 reported last month.
"I just wanted to follow up with you and let you know that we have spoken to the cast member in question and have reacted very strongly toward him," a man who identified himself as Jean Erik Redrupp, general manager of Park Operations at Disney-MGM Studios, said in a phone recording.
"The general manager apologized to me," Monaco Sr. said. "Everybody will come up and apologize to me but Tigger. He won't be a man about it and get out of the costume and come out and apologize to my son. I didn't want VIP treatment. I didn't want an extra day at Disney. I didn't want any of that. I wanted him to apologize and that is the one thing that they won't do."
Fedelem was suspended by Disney pending the investigation, according to an AP report
good. hopefully he will get his job back soon.
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