Santa Busted Around US for Christmas Crimes
"Santa" has been in trouble with police around the U.S.
Dec. 24, 2012— -- intro: While Santa and his elves are preparing for their sleigh ride around the world, some impostors have been busy giving jolly old St. Nick a bad name. Here are some of the Santas who have been accused of being naughty.
quicklist: 1title: Santa Busted After Throwing a Wild Partytext: Santa, also known as Mike Busey, has no regrets about the wild party he threw at his Florida home, which he called the "Sausage Castle."
An undercover police officer paid the $20 cover to go to Busey's party and, inside, saw liquor being sold without a license, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.
Busey was busted and booked, but even after he was released, remained characteristically jolly about his experience.
"Last Night I Got Arrested For Throwing A EPIC Party! I Never Had Some Much Being Arrested!" he tweeted.
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quicklist: 2title: Santa Accused of Chalking at Texas Capitoltext: A naughty St. Nick was arrested for chalking holiday wishes on state Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas.
Officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety handcuffed a defiant Kris Kringle, who shouted, "I was being nice! What's wrong with being nice?"
"I'm an American! I'm Santa Claus!" he told officers, claiming U.S. citizenship for the jolly, old man who lives at the North Pole.
After Santa was arrested, a mischievous elf chalked "Free Santa" on the sidewalk, landing himself behind bars with his boss.
Both men faced criminal mischief charges. Santa was also charged with evading arrest, according to the Austin American Statesman.
VIDEO: Santa Arrested Outside Capitol
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quicklist: 3title: 'Santa' Accused of Using Counterfeit Billtext: Santa did a little Christmas shopping in South Florida, but police said he tried to pay with a fake $100 bill.
Jaret Santa, who bears the name of the North Pole's most famous resident, allegedly tried to swap the counterfeit bill for a $25 T.G.I. Friday's gift card and change last Wednesday, according to the Boynton Beach Police Department.
Santa was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of possessing a forged instrument. His bond was set at $3,000.
Santa told police he didn't know the bill was counterfeit, ABC News affiliate WPBF reported.
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quicklist: 4title: Greedy Santa Raids Store's Safetext: A greedy Santa Claus raided a safe at a shop in Sydney, Australia, making off with bundles of cash in a red sack, according to police.
The holiday heist happened at 8 p.m. on Sunday, New South Wales, police said in a news release.
Surveillance video captured a man in a full Santa Claus suit pushing a shopping cart with a red sack into a retail store that was closed. Police said the fake St. Nick gained access to the store because the shopping center was open.
This Santa turned out to be a Scrooge. He broke into an office and busted into the safe, making off with bundles of cash in a red sack, police said.
The slippery Santa has not been caught.
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quicklist: 5title: Santa Busted After Hitting Cop Cartext: A 69-year-old Santa was returning home from a holiday party on Saturday when he crashed into an unmarked sheriff's office vehicle in Wesport, Wis., according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
John Schuster, who was reportedly dressed as St. Nick, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the Dane County Sheriff's Office said.
A deputy who had been sitting in the car at the time of the crash sustained minor injuries.
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