Police arrested a man while he was walking on a Massachusetts trail dressed as a mime on Sunday.
Massachusetts State Police said 29-year-old Hernan Asael Villagran Lux is facing three counts of criminal harassment after his arrest on the Cochituate Rail Trail near the Framingham-Natick line.
People in the area say they have often seen him in a mime costume in the area.
“I’ve seen this person walk by,” said Dalia Stuart. “In fact, I’ve seen this person walk on the main street, and I’ve always asked myself, like, ‘Why is he dressed like that?'”
“I think I’ve seen this person, maybe like five times,” said Tracy Qiu.
“He passed me when I was going down the path,” said Chris Neofotistos. “Kind of freaked me out a bit. Top hat, Dracula paint on his face, black cape, cane. Real creepy.”
State police said there was a warrant for Villagran Lux’s arrest.
He was arraigned Monday at Framingham District Court.
“Causing a disturbance and harassing people, that’s just not appropriate — no matter what your call yourself or do,” said Blake Ellison, who often walks the trail.
Qiu says the man’s demeanor along the trail raised red flags.
“He was just kind of by the bushes, by the water, so that was a little weird that he was just kind of off the path, kind of stumbling around the bushes by himself,” she said. “And that was when it was starting to get a little darker, so I got a little spooked.”
Villagran Lux has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His arrest comes less as a surprise and more of a relief for those who have crossed paths with the mime.
“I get a little shaken up, thinking that I walk this trail every day, by myself,” said Stuart. “It’s concerning.”
