A 22-year-old Arizona man was arrested early Monday after he falsely told guests at Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort that there was an active shooter inside the hotel so he could record their reactions for his YouTube channel, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the affidavit, Dillion Burch was running up to guests at Disney’s Contemporary Resort shortly after midnight and telling them to evacuate because there was a shooter.
Burch, who was “highly intoxicated”, then told the people he was joking and wanted to see what their reactions were for a school project, according to the affidavit.
Eventually a manager approached Burch and asked him why, he said he was working on a school project in which he had to record people’s reactions when they find out an emergency is happening, deputies said.
According to the report, the manager explained to him that he couldn’t do that and that deputies were on their way to speak with him. Burch then walked out of the hotel lobby and when he saw deputy’s lights, he began running into the parking lot.
Deputies arrived and found Burch in some bushes, the report said. Burch was searched and taken into custody by deputies. During the search, authorities located a beer in his red backpack, deputies said.
Burch was evicted from his hotel room and banned from Walt Disney World property, the report said. He was charged with disturbing the peace at a public lodging and disorderly intoxication.
During his first appearance Tuesday, Burch pleaded no contest to both charges and was sentenced to three days in jail.
