Knife-Wielding Man In Dog Costume Tased In Germantown Michaels: Police

GERMANTOWN, MD — A man dressed in a dog costume was tased and arrested by police after he displayed a knife and acted "erratically" inside the Germantown Michaels.

Montgomery County Police charged Ludwin Joel Godoy-Mantar, 26, of an unconfirmed address, with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest for the incident that occurred Sunday.

According to police, officers received a call at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday from an employee at the Michaels store at 20902 Frederick Rd. The caller told police that a man wearing a dog costume was "acting strange" in the store, police said. The manager of the store told officers she saw a man walking repeatedly in and out of the store carrying a knife.

Officers located Godoy-Mantar in the rear of the store, "carrying a knife and causing a disturbance." Witnesses were able to provide a description of the man and said that he had removed the costume he was previously wearing, police said.

Godoy-Mantar was instructed by police to put down the knife, which was about four-inches long, police said. He did not comply and began advancing on the officer. The officer drew his firearm and created distance, but Godoy-Mantar continued to move closer to him, police said.

The suspect then turned down an aisle in the direction of the store exit. At that time, a second officer tased Godoy-Mantar. Godoy-Mantar was placed into custody while "actively fighting" the officers, police said.

Godoy-Mantar was transported to the hospital by Fire & Rescue personnel for a mental health evaluation. Police charged Godoy-Mantar once he was medically released from the hospital Tuesday. He is being held without bond, police said.

Photo: Montgomery County Police Department