A Guy Hid from Cops in a Nativity Scene by Pretending to Be a Wise Man

An unusual pursuit in Galatone, southern Italy, ended in an arrest after a wanted man attempted to evade capture by posing as a statue in a public nativity display. The 38-year-old Ghanaian national, who was fleeing a conviction for assault and resisting arrest, tried to pass himself off as a "wise man" among the life-size figures.

A Failed Disguise

The fugitive’s attempt at a "Scooby-Doo" style getaway involved standing perfectly still with his arms raised. However, the performance was not quite convincing enough to fool Mayor Flavio Filoni, who noticed something amiss while passing the display.

He looks like he's doing the Michael Jackson Thriller Dance. HA!

"While I was walking past the nativity scene, which set up by our tourism office, I noticed a figure which I initially thought was part of the scene," Mayor Filoni explained. "But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the figure moving."

Swift Police Intervention

Authorities quickly apprehended the man, who was previously sentenced to over nine months in prison by a court in Bologna. He has since been transferred to a facility in Lecce to serve his remaining time.

The Mayor praised the coordination between the local police and the Carabinieri. "Thanks to the swift intervention of our local police, the state police and the Carabinieri, it was possible to identify this person, who it turned out was a wanted fugitive," Filoni stated. "A big thank you to all men and women who uphold our security with competence and dedication."