GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -
On Sunday, the behavior of a man in the Hollywood 20 movie theater
parking lot who was recording moviegoers and the theater put everyone
on edge and caught the eye of deputies.
When asked why he was filming the movie theater, he said he was making a documentary about the incident in Colorado. He was parked in an unauthorized parking space and was told to move his vehicle.
When the deputy went over there with him, he did observe several boxes of ammunition in his front seat, said Alia Urps with the Greenville Police Department.
Deputies asked to search the car. They said the man declined and then spent an hour lurking around before abruptly leaving.
Officers and management at Hollywood 20 were concerned and called ahead to put Cherrydale Cinemas on alert. Officers said that's where the suspicious man showed up next.
"He allowed the deputy to search him, then walked the deputy to his car and let him search the car," said Laura Campbell with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Campbell said deputies found two weapons inside his car along with ammunition.
"However, this man was legally allowed to obtain and have both of those, he housed them according to state law, so at this point there is no crime that's been committed," said Campbell.
While legal, the incident left a lot of people questioning whether going to the movies is safe.
"It did make me think twice about going," said one moviegoer.
Others said the recent tragedy followed by copycat suspicions won't keep them away from theaters, but it has made them aware.
"I just hope that it makes people realize that no matter where you are, there is always a chance that something bad is going to happen," said another moviegoer.
Therapist Dr. Roger Rhoades said during a time when people are on edge about going to the movies, it's healthy to be alert but not anxious.
"We don't live in a bunker, we're not well if we try to. We need to take normal precautions and we need to hold people accountable for the way they act and the choices they make," said Rhoades.
Deputies said the suspicious man bought a ticket to see a movie at Cherrydale Cinema, but managers refunded his money and asked him to leave.
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The Regal Hollywood 20 theater is located on Woodruff Road in Greenville. (File/FOX Carolina)
