Police officers in the US state of Ohio got more than they bargained for during a routine traffic stop just days before Christmas, when they discovered the driver was none other than Santa Claus – and he was legally armed.
A Festive Traffic Stop in Fulton County
The unusual encounter occurred in Fulton County, Ohio, on December 20, 2025. Officers initiated a stop for a speeding vehicle, but as they approached the car, the situation took a surreal turn. The deputy was met with the sight of a man in a full red Santa suit, complete with a white beard, behind the wheel.
The driver promptly informed the officers that he had a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permit, allowing him to legally carry a hidden firearm in public. "Santa's got a CCW? Times are rough," the amused patrol officer was heard saying in bodycam footage, before bursting into laughter.
A Warning for Saint Nick
After explaining the reason for the stop, the officer decided to let Father Christmas off with just a verbal warning, choosing festive spirit over a fine. "There goes my presents," the deputy joked as the red-suited driver departed.
Reflecting on the incident online, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office posted a light-hearted message on social media: ‘No coal was issued—just a friendly reminder that even sleighs need to slow down.’
ICE's Bizarre AI Christmas Warning
This peculiar police stop coincides with another strange festive story emerging from US immigration authorities. Earlier the same week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a controversial, AI-generated video warning illegal immigrants to ‘avoid Santa’s naughty list’.
The video, shared by ICE on X (formerly Twitter) on December 22, depicts a heavily militarised Father Christmas. The AI-generated St Nick wears his traditional suit but accessorises with tactical fingerless gloves and a red bulletproof vest marked ‘ICE’. He is seen checking magazine pouches, with other agents in the background, before a clip shows him handcuffing a man.
The message urges individuals to ‘self-deport’ using a government app to receive a $3,000 incentive and spend Christmas at home. The video had garnered over 475,000 views shortly after its release.
These two incidents highlight the increasingly unusual intersections between holiday tradition, law enforcement, and modern technology in contemporary culture.
