Police: Snowman investigated for battery

COEUR d’ALENE — Police said there’s “no threat to the community” after a man in a snowman costume hugged a teen girl who has “an intense fear of mascots” Thursday night.

Officers responded to The Shops downtown for an alleged battery, according to a news release issued by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. 

The reporting party, a 16-year-old girl, told police she was in The Shops with friends when a man dressed as a snowman approached her. The man was employed by Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises, police said, and security footage showed him interacting with children and adults in The Shops and posing for photos before the incident. 

“The victim has an intense fear of mascots and was immediately afraid as the snowman began walking toward her with open arms,” police said. 

Police said the teen backed up against a wall “while shaking her head and saying no” and the snowman hugged her. 

As the teen and her friends ran away from the snowman, one of them tripped and hit her head, according to police. The teen who fell was evaluated by medical personnel and released. 

Police interviewed the snowman, as well as the teen’s parents. No charges have been filed at this time.