BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Paying customers get an unexpected show as naked man swims with sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium,
A man who skinny-dipped in the shark tank at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is wanted for assaulting a man at Medieval Times earlier in the same night, police say.
At around 8 p.m. on Friday, a 34-year-old man was randomly assaulted outside of Medieval Times, near Dufferin St. and Saskatchewan Rd.
Employees at the venue had apparently asked the suspect to leave for being disruptive, Toronto police Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook told the Star.
The suspect later returned and smashed two glass doors, she said.
Afterward, outside the venue, the man allegedly approached the victim who was smoking a cigarette and assaulted him. She said the victim and suspect had no prior contact. Later that same evening around 10:30 p.m., police said they received a call about a man who dropped his drawers and jumped into a tank full of sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium.
“Further investigation revealed the man involved in both incidents was the same person,” Toronto police said in a press release.
On Monday night, DouglasCook said police were able to identify the man with help from the public as David Weaver, 37, from Nelson, B.C.
He is wanted for assault causing bodily harm and mischief interfering with property. Security camera footage shows a man entering the aquarium in downtown Toronto shortly after 10 p.m.
He bought a ticket before immediately taking off his clothes, climbing over the security barrier and jumping into the water, Ripley’s officials said in a statement.
“Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is co-operating with authorities and is willing to press all appropriate charges once the individual has been apprehended,” the statement read.
Videos captured by onlookers show the naked man swimming in the tank as sharks dart by in the water beneath him. As he was climbing out of the tank, in front of the security person who was waving him out, he took a backward dive off the rocks and into the water as people in the crowd cheered.
The skinny dipper then hoisted himself out of the tank, hopped over the gate and headed into the crowd where a woman handed him what appears to be clothing.
Police say Weaver may be be driving a green Dodge Caravan with the British Columbia licence plate number PL120G.