Police cracked down on Times Square’s menacing pack of costumed creeps over the weekend after a Spider-Man punched an NYPD officer — busting five more panhandlers and trailing many others to warn tourists about them.
“They’re like little terrorists preying on all the tourists,” a disgusted law-enforcement source said of the pushy panhandlers.
Cops got tough after Junior Bishop, dressed as Spider-Man, allegedly flew into a violent rage when rookie cop Eduardo Molina confronted him about charging tourists a whopping $10 per picture Saturday.
The Naked Black Cowboy, whose real name is Titus Gandy, was busted when he showed up at the Midtown South Precinct to check on his buddy Bishop, sources said.
The skivvy-wearing character was nabbed on an open warrant — and charged with drug possession after cocaine was found in his wallet during a frisk, sources said.
Four other characters also were collared in a Times Square sweep Saturday night, including Captain America, Jessie the cowgirl from “Toy Story’’ and another Spider-Man, sources said.
Gandy, 22, who was released on a desk-appearance ticket, was back trolling the Crossroads of the World in his white underwear and cowboy hat Sunday. He denied he’d been arrested.
“I think the police are great,” Gandy said. “They haven’t done anything to me. I like to keep to myself and do my job.”
Also arrested Saturday night were Hortencia Alagia, 42, and Luis Salinas, 20 — both charged with disorderly conduct — and Jeanmark Banga, 36, and Wilmar Suarez, 30, for aggressive panhandling, cops said.
Salinas, aka Captain America, was released without bail Sunday.
“I didn’t do anything,” he said later. “I was standing by Spider-Man, who punched a cop, and then four cops came over and arrested me. I didn’t struggle, I’m 20. I let them arrest me,” he said.
Warning: Video contains profanity.
Bishop, 25 — who previously panhandled as a Cookie Monster — was arraigned hours earlier on charges of felony assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He was held in lieu of $3,500 bail.
While in custody, the faux web-slinger lost his superhero cool, screaming, “F–k that!” at cops when they tried to fingerprint him, sources said. He finally complied an hour later.
Throughout the day, cops were keeping a watchful eye on other pesky mascots in Times Square.
The officers issued reminders to unsuspecting tourists that they’re not obligated to tip the characters for photos — in between posing for pictures themselves with eager tourists.
“They accept tips. But you don’t have to pay them,” the cops advised families posing with a Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Hello Kitty and Woody from “Toy Story” on 46th Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway.
The costumed impersonators griped that the NYPD was ruining their livelihoods.
“I would think [twice] about letting my kids take a picture with them.”
- Josefina Martinez
“The cops are on top of us all the time, telling people to not give us tips, which is not fair,” said a man dressed as Bane from “Batman.”
“It’s not easy. It’s a job. [But] people are generous sometimes, and they appreciate the work that we do.”
Some New Yorkers said they were repelled by the skeevy masked characters.
“That makes New Yorkers look pretty bad,” said mom of three Josefina Martinez, 47, of The Bronx, referring to Bishop’s bust.
“You don’t want someone who’s just come from jail to take a picture with your kid.
“I would think [twice] about letting my kids take a picture with them.”
Additional reporting by Lia Eustachewich, Kathryn Cusma, Aaron Feis and Kirstan Conley