‘Sesame Street’ star runs amok

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 15

‘Sesame Street’ star runs amok

NZPA Nashville, Tennessee Northern Calloway, an actor on the television children’s series, “Sesame Street,” has been charged with aggravated assault after the police said he had beaten up a woman and had run naked along a street breaking house windows. Calloway, aged 32, of New York City, was in Nashville, Tennessee, last week to perform at the opening of the Tennessee Performing Arts Centre, according to the police. Centre officials thought he had left Nashville, but the police said Calloway apparently was on a week’s sick leave. Calloway was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries before being taken to the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute. The police said Calloway had beaten Mary Stagman, of Nashville, on the head and chest with an iron. The woman had

been treated at a local hospital for head wounds and broken ribs as a result of the attack, the police said. Calloway was reported to have been a guest in her home. “He beat her so hard with the iron that it tore the iron up,” said one of the arresting policemen. Sergeant Joel Goodwin said Calloway had done extensive damage to two homes. “I don’t know what was wrong,” he said. “He went on a rampage throughout the neighbourhood.” “The man didn’t have any clothes on. He was running around the neighbourhood hollering. Those people were scared to death.” A resident, Douglas White, said he had fired a shot into the air after Calloway had run through his yard wearing only a T-shirt. Calloway played the character, David, on “Sesame Street” for seven seasons.