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'Vladimir Putin' arrested at Publix in downtown West Palm Beach

Posted at 2:11 PM, Aug 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-30 18:49:43-04

A Publix in downtown West Palm Beach was invaded by an unwelcome guest who claimed to have the same name as a strong-armed foreign leader.

The manager of the downtown Publix on Rosemary Avenue called police on Aug. 21 asking help removing a man from the patio of the store.

The Publix manager said the man, who identified himself as “Vladimir Putin,” had entered the store earlier and screamed at employees.

 

The police report says “Putin” then left the area only to return and begin screaming at employees again.

The man told the manager he had missed his ride and refused to leave the Publix.  

Police arrived at the scene and took “Putin” into custody and charged him with trespassing and resisting an officer without violence.

"Putin" was in court Monday and a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. 

It's unclear what the man's real name is or his address, but the police report indicates he is 48-years-old.  

If you were wondering, Russian president Vladimir Putin is 63 and grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia (not Florida).