(Published Saturday, August 20, 2005)







By Danielle Letenyei
Gazette Staff

The Force wasn't with a Stormtrooper-clad attendee of the JVL-CON science fiction convention on Friday at the Ramada Inn in Janesville.

Instead, it had him surrounded.

Janesville police got a surprise when they responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Ramada Inn, 3431 Milton Ave.

The alleged suspect was dressed as a Stormtrooper, a soldier for the Galactic Empire in the science fiction movie series "Star Wars."

"Apparently some people who saw him felt there was a threat," said Sgt. Kay Nikolaus of the Janesville Police Department.

The Stormtrooper was really a vendor participating in the weekend convention, held annually at the Ramada Inn, said Joann Lewandowski, who lives with event organizer Ray Norton.

"It was kind of silly but kind of understandable," Lewandowski said.

Whoever called police must have missed the Ramada's marquee out front, which announces the convention being held there, Lewandowski said.

The Stormtrooper got a warning from police-leave the plastic laser gun inside.

So, if you're passing the Ramada this weekend and you see a little green guy with pointy ears and wearing a robe, it shouldn't be an alien concept.