A 23 year old man is giving Santa's little helpers a bad name. Brian Chellis, from Cedar Grove, found himself in trouble after doing something that kids don't normally associate with Santa's elves.
Chellis, who went out dressed as one of Santa Claus' little elves, is facing drunk-driving charges in New Jersey after police found him early Friday morning drunkenly passed out in his car.
Sgt. Pat Harden was sent to the parking lot of a Target store on Route 23 around 3:30 a.m. on Friday after the Riverdale police received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. The police officer found the car, a gray-colored Toyota van that was parked by the loading dock of the store.
Something is odd with the parked car because the engine was running, the lights were on and loud music was playing. Inside the car was its driver, Chellis, who was found sleeping behind the wheel and on an elf on the shelf costume wearing a red shirt with white ruffled collar and red pants.
The sergeant shut off the engine of the car and proceeded to waking Chellis when he noticed the strong odor of alcoholic beverage. He also noticed that the man in costume appeared to be confused and found an open can of beer inside of the van.
After a series of field sobriety tests, the police transported Chellis to the police headquarters for a breath test. The drunken elf was issued summonses for careless driving, possession of an open alcohol container in his car and driving while intoxicated with alcohol. Chellis was released to a family member pending an appearance at a municipal court in early January next year.
The image of Santa himself also appears to be in trouble as authorities in Kansas arrest a sex offender who has been working as Santa Claus in Kansas City.
The 50 year old man was convicted twice in 1992 and 1998 in California for sex-related charges that included indecent exposure and child molestation. Jackson County Sheriff's said on Thursday that the man worked at a home décor store, where he sometimes interacted with customers dressed as Santa.
It is not illegal for a person to portray Santa Claus but the offender, who was identified as James Gray, was arrested and charged for failing to report his employment as required for a sex offender. Gray had been taken to the Jackson County Detention Center on Wednesday.
