The force is strong in Obiwan Kenobi, the real Obiwan Kenobi. The police force is also strong in Kenobi. A hit and run in April in California involved a man with the name of Obiwan Kenobi. Some of you might recall the name, as it was the name of the Jedi Knight who trained Luke Skywalker in the popular science fiction films ‘Star Wars.’
Kenobi, 37, was arrested by police officers this past weekend after allegedly being the cause of a 5-vehicle collision in Roseville. He then fled the scene of the accident in a Toyota. According to authorities, multiple injuries were caused by the accident. The man had his name legally changed to Kenobi in 1999 in order to win a prize. His name used to be Benjamin Cale Feit but he wanted to win a $1,000 prize from a radio station during the release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.” To win the money you had to arrive at the premier and prove your name was Obiwan Kenobi. It cost Feit only $12 to legally change his name. We should note that in the ‘Star Wars’ record books, Obi-Wan is spelled with a dash in it.
“KWOD 106.5 had a contest back in April of ’99 when ‘(Star Wars) Episode I’ came out in theaters as a promotion. The first person to come in with a legal document with the name Obiwan Kenobi on it would get $1,000,” Kenobi said, according to the Lincoln News Messenger.
“I was at my buddy’s house listening to the radio and heard about it,” he added. “I didn’t do anything until the next day when I heard it again and it was still going on. I called him up since I didn’t have a car and he took me to the DMV.”
Kenobi now has an interesting story to tell while he sits in jail.