Becoming irate after discovering the screening of “The Avengers” which he was attending was closed captioned, a local man argued with management before pulling a fire alarm at Regal Cinemas in Abingdon Monday night.
David Walters, 34, is charged with causing a false fire alarm, a misdemeanor, in connection with the incident, which occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. Monday evening.
According to a release from the state fire marshal’s office, Walters became disruptive and argued with the theater’s manager when he realized the showing of “The Avengers” he was attending was closed captioned. Walters refused a refund or future tickets, and returned to the theater.
When the movie ended, fire officials said Walters became belligerent and again argued with theater management. He eventually pulled a lobby fire alarm and left the premises, but was later identified and charged.
In an e-mail accompanying the release, Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said pulling the fire alarm caused all movies to temporarily shut down, and activated emergency lighting. Theater patrons were not evacuated, but were informed of the situation, with several receiving refunds.
Alkire said the charge against Walters carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and/or up to $5,000 in fines.
What a tool…
Behavior that seems like it could only be explained by mental disorder, substance abuse or incomplete or inaccurate facts.
Unless he really is that much of a jerk. Why refuse a refund or future tickets and then go back into the movie?
I was at the premier of a very famously anticipated movie some years ago and some idiot pulled the fire alarm about 30 minutes in and the movie stopped and we had to wait 20 minutes whle they double checked the building and started it up again. Nearly ruined the whole thing for a few hundred people.
But that’s okay if you’re really angry I guess. Whatever helps you cope with life’s frustrations.
That type of behavior can’t be excused for any reason, but especially not at the end of the movie. If he had taken the refund, left early and pulled it on the way out in the heat of the moment it would almost be understandable (not reasonable). I would be upset if I didn’t know about the closed captioning for a minute, but you either get over it or get the refund and come back another time. I’ve never been to a movie that was marked closed captioning, does that happen alot and I’ve just never seen it? Do that have that listed by the movie during the movie times?
I’ve never seen that before either, ever. One would think they’d have to notify customers somehow– probably some fine print or symbol on the marquee that maybe he didn’t see.
AND maybe the person selling him the tickets didn’t make sure he knew that, which I can see him being upset about, as they should probably go the extra mile and remind people they are buying tickets for a movie with that feature.
But still.
There are captioned films designed for Deaf people and the ones that do not understand English. Not many movie theaters embrace that concept. As Deaf person who battled the local cinemas to have one theater for open captioned films (Don’t you have 14 or so?) — we have very limited access to films of that kind. And yes, nearly all cinemas I knew would put the abbreviation “OC” which indicates that the film is “o”pen “c”aptioned. You have to be so stupid or blind not to notice that in 1st place.
And David K. Walters knew there are plenty of films without subtitles in it and he’s whining about this one? He’s despicable & selfish for a human being.
To get the general idea of what the OC is all about — check captionfish.com — you’ll see that we have some but still limited options when it comes to access the films in movie theaters.
R-
If that is understandable I do not like your understanding or reasoning!
Yes, there is. When you purchase a ticket, you should be able to view the list of the films on the wall — often they would mark it “OC” which indicates Open Captioned.
For further details on captioning and access to the films for Deaf people, you can check http://www.captionfish.com.
Your rather overlook of already existing open captioned films are dismal, inexcusable and not surprising at all. Ignorance is bliss, is it?
R-
Gotta check out the guys rap sheet, seems par for the scumbag…