Halloween 2023: Costumed, masked man arrested in restaurant with visible sidearm, ammo, tactical vest and belt

Yesterday, Florida’s DeLand Police Department reported on the arrest of a 22-year-old man from DeLand who was Halloweening in a local restaurant on the evening of October 31 – but in a dangerous fashion.  The man was wearing a mask with a baton for his Halloween costume but was also outfitted with a loaded gun, ammo, handcuffs, and wearing a bulletproof vest.  He was arrested by police for violating local open carry laws.

Around 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Halloween night, a concerned anonymous citizen flagged down DeLand police officers to report the individual. That concerned citizen told police that a man in a long-sleeve motorcycle shirt in the dining area was carrying a gun in public view and was wearing a ballistic vest, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Officers responded to Cafe DaVinci located at 112 W. Georgia Avenue and located the man, 22-year-old Michael I. Ribar, who had a visible handgun on his right hip. Officers removed the weapon for safety purposes – and it was discovered there was a live round in the chamber.

Open carry of firearms is illegal under most circumstances. DeLand officers seized a ballistic vest, a black 9mm handgun, three loaded magazines, a tactical belt with two handcuffs, a baton and a medical kit.  Ribar was removed from the scene at the request of the business owner and was arrested for openly carrying a firearm in a prohibited place.

Ribar was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on two misdemeanor counts of Open Carrying of Weapons. Police noted that the second charge stems from Ribar also carrying a baton.  He was released from jail on Wednesday afternoon after posting $1,000 bail.

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(Source: DeLand Police Department)
(Michael I. Ribar cover photo – mugshot – Image credit: Volusia County Jail)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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