Uniontown Ninja

The Uniontown Ninja is the popular name used by a man who was seen causing mayhem in South Union Township, Pennsylvania (near Uniontown, Pennsylvania) while dressed as a ninja. The incendiary story caught national news media attention and generated 2 parody YouTube videos, later revealed to be produced by an off-duty police officer. In 2013, police announced an arrest in the case, later leading to guilty pleas on lesser charges.

April 2011 burglaries During the Easter weekend of 2011 (April 23 and 24), a series of car break-ins, up to a dozen, were reported in South Union Township, Pennsylvania. The suspect was described as a male wearing a ninja outfit and carrying a sword.

Media attention and off-duty law enforcement-produced parodies The story of the "Uniontown Ninja" caught national attention, appearing on CNN.

The day after the initial burglaries, a video appeared on YouTube with a man purporting to be the Uniontown Ninja, appropriately dressed as such, demanding that police cease their investigation and demanding a case of Milwaukee's Best. Another video "Return of the Uniontown Ninja" followed on May 1. The trooper claimed that he was merely making fun of a "stupid criminal" in his spare time and with his own equipment; he expressed hope that the video might generate some leads for the case. Police said that he admitted to the burglary but denied stabbing anyone, saying "I open unlocked cars." In October, the man pleaded guilty in Fayette County' mental health court to simple assault and theft from a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors. The felony and other charges were withdrawn.