Syracuse, NY -- A man pulled a rabbit out of a Dr. Seuss hat Tuesday afternoon during Syracuse City Court.

Upon inspection by court security, it turned out to be stuffed. But it caused a disruption nevertheless, especially when the man started dancing it on a railing, said Sean Egan, chief of court security for the Fifth Judicial District.

A rumor going around the courthouse said the animal was real, but Egan said that was not true.

"A gentleman did actually pull a bunny out of a hat," Egan said. "It was a stuffed animal. He's kind of a character."

Aside from his Dr. Seuss hat, the man also wore several dead roses, Egan said.

Security ushered the man outside the courtroom, where they found out that he had missed an appearance Monday.

The self-styled magician said that he would pull evidence out of his hat, like the bunny, Egan said. After a conversation, the man left the courthouse with the promise that he'd be back.

The entire episode took place without the judge's knowledge. There are chairs and tables with lawyers separating the gallery from the judge's bench.

Contacted today, City Court Judge Venessa Bogan said she didn't see any of what happened.

Egan did not know the man's identity and the judge's staff did not have his information because he wasn't expected to be in court that day.

Syracuse City Court handles everything from misdemeanors and traffic violations to minor civil cases.

Egan said odd cases are bound to happen because security screens a quarter-million people a year entering Onondaga County courthouses.