Police recently arrested a 26-year-old man dressed in a “Grim Reaper” outfit after he climbed onto a hospital roof and stared at patients and staff. The incident occurred at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in St Asaph in Denbighshire, Wales.
The man was wearing a black hooded costume that he described as a crow and was wielding what appeared to be a scythe. He reportedly was on the roof of the hospital for around 50 minutes, staring at patients, visitors and the hospital staff. He also reportedly made noises at people on the ground.
The incident prompted someone to call North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Eyewitnesses reportedly saw four police cars and a fire service vehicle at the hospital.
The man claimed his ‘Grim Reaper’ costume was actually a crow
After authorities brought the man down from the hospital roof, he did not provide a reason for his behavior, but he admitted to stealing cat food and cat litter from Pets at Home in Llandudno, as well as some food and drink from Sainsbury’s in Llandudno.
“He was charged with other than for the purpose of obtaining medical advice, treatment or care, caused, without reasonable excuse, a nuisance or disturbance to a National Health Service staff member who was working there or was otherwise there in connection with work, and refused, without reasonable excuse, to leave the premises when asked to do so by a constable,” said a spokesperson for North Wales Police.
The man pleaded guilty to the nuisance charge, and the court ordered him to pay $337 in fines. During the hearing, he stated that he did not intend his outfit to mimic the “Grim Reaper.” He claimed, instead, that he was dressed up like a bird.
“The health board has previously stated it has a zero tolerance approach to abuse, aggression or nuisance within its hospital sites,” said a spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
In 2020, a Florida man repeatedly showed up on crowded beaches dressed as the Grim Reaper to remind complacent Floridians of the dangers the pandemic still posed as businesses and other locations began to reopen.