The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday said it took a report from Jerry Monaco Sr. stating that Tigger struck his son Jerry Jr. on the head the day before.
“He felt that Tigger essentially punched his son and he filed a police report,” said Deputy Carlos Padilla, a sheriff’s spokesman. “We need to talk to all sides to see exactly what happened.”
Friday’s incident is the second in nearly three years involving Tigger-costumed Disney workers. In February 2004, a 13-year-old girl and her mother reported being groped by someone dressed as Tigger at Magic Kingdom’s Toontown. A jury acquitted the man and he was reinstated as a Disney employee.
Disney officials said the employee in the latest complaint has been suspended until an internal investigation and the sheriff’s criminal inquiry are completed.
“We received a complaint that a character allegedly struck a guest,” said Zoraya Suarez, a Disney spokeswoman. “Naturally, a physical altercation between characters and guests is not tolerated.”
The Monacos’ home video, shot by Jerry Monaco Sr., shows Tigger standing next to Jerry Monaco Jr. while his mother and two brothers kneel or stand in front of the costumed character.
In a series of seconds, Tigger grabs and locks Jerry Jr.’s left arm with his right arm and then throws a left jab at the teen’s face.
Father and son told television reporters that Tigger threw a punch without provocation.
“At first, I thought he was kidding and all, just playing around, and then when he actually grabbed my arm,” Jerry Jr. said.
His father said their Disney vacation was marred: “You don’t come here for this, I mean, Disney is supposed to be a safe place.”
