A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Police arrested a stormtrooper outside a Lynn elementary school Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Dave Brown told Boston.com that Lynn police received several calls reporting the Star Wars costume-dressed man holding a toy gun outside the front entrance of Brickett Elementary School around the time students were supposed to be dismissed.

The school’s principal briefly delayed dismissal, and officers quickly arrested 40-year-old Lynn resident George Cross on counts of disrupting a school assembly and loitering within 1,000 feet of a school zone, both misdemeanors. Students were kept inside until officers completed the arrest.


Cross “caused quite a commotion’’ and “had no business being there’’ said Brown, noting that police couldn’t assume the gun was a toy. Brown said Cross was very cooperative and apologetic upon his arrest. Cross was released from custody later Wednesday.

“I bought a costume, I was walking through the neighborhood showing friends, and then all that,’’ Cross told 7News while leaving the courthouse.

According to Brown, Cross told police he wanted to show the plastic outfit to the students leaving school.

“It was a poor decision,’’ Brown said.

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