Teen in court for snatching bunny head

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - A high school student in Clark County faced a judge Monday after police said he stole the Easter Bunny's head.

It happened last week at the Upper Valley Mall while the Easter Bunny was greeting customers and taking pictures with children.

Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Couse, a Greenon High School senior is facing a long list of charges for what he called a "prank".

Couse said he was at the mall last Tuesday with his friends, when they thought it would be funny to take the Easter Bunny's head off.

"I came up to the bunny, gave him a hug, then I took his head and started running around the mall with it," said Couse.

Police said Couse ran around the mall with the bunny head on, mall security chasing after him.

"The security guards got all mad. I guess he took it personally or something. I don't know why," said Couse.

Security was able to retrieve the bunny head in one piece. Couse was escorted off the property.

"They kicked me out. They said never to come back again," said Couse.

Now the high school senior is charged with assault, theft, disorderly conduct, and menacing.

The courts have ordered Couse to stay out of the Upper Valley Mall property.