Introduction to the Incident
A Chuck E. Cheese employee wearing a character costume was arrested at a restaurant location in Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday on credit card fraud charges.
Jermel Jones, 41 of Tallahassee, was led out of a Chuck E. Cheese in handcuffs by police while in a full mouse costume, an image posted online shows.
Details of the Arrest
Jones was taken to the Leon County Detention Facility and charged with felony counts of credit card theft, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card more than two times for a value of $100 or more, according to an arrest report obtained by NBC News.
Response from Chuck E. Cheese’s Parent Company
"We are aware of an incident involving a part-time employee arrested at our Tallahassee location on Wednesday, July 23," a spokesperson for CEC Entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company, said in a statement. "We have taken the appropriate action concerning the subject employee."
Investigation and Evidence
Tallahassee police said they were dispatched to the Chuck E. Cheese for reported fraudulent use of a stolen credit card. A woman in a parking lot outside of the restaurant told police she had video evidence that an employee had stolen her credit card and recently used it, according to the arrest report.
The woman said she last had possession of her credit card on June 28, when she attended her child’s birthday party at the Chuck E. Cheese location, which she regularly visits, according to the arrest report. The woman also gave police a list of alleged fraudulent charges made from July 3 to July 22 for a total of $105.57.
Identification of the Suspect
The woman said she obtained footage from a local grocer where some fraudulent charges were made and matched the time of when the credit card was used, according to the arrest report. She said she recognized the person using the credit card as an employee of Chuck E. Cheese.
An officer entered the Chuck E. Cheese to verify Jones was at the restaurant and said the suspect "looked very nervous," according to the arrest report. When that officer later returned with two others, they asked a female employee where Jones had gone and whether he was the one wearing the mouse costume.
"She shook her head up and down indicating yes," the arrest report said.
Arrest and Recovery of Evidence
The arresting officer approached Jones, grabbed his arm and said “Chuck E., come with me,” according to the arrest report. The suspect initially resisted before multiple officers "exerted minor physical effort placing Jones’ arms behind his back," the arrest report said.
Officers searched Jones and recovered a credit card belonging to the woman, according to the arrest report. Police also recovered a purchase receipt with information matching the credit card.
Aftermath
Jones was released from Leon County Detention Facility on Thursday after posting a $6,500 bond, a jail representative told NBC News.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the importance of vigilance and swift action in cases of credit card fraud. The cooperation between the victim, the police, and the establishment led to the arrest of the suspect, bringing a sense of justice and relief to those affected.
FAQs
- Q: What were the charges against Jermel Jones?
- A: Jones was charged with felony counts of credit card theft, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card more than two times for a value of $100 or more.
- Q: How was Jermel Jones identified as the suspect?
- A: The victim recognized Jones from footage obtained from a local grocer where some fraudulent charges were made, matching the time the credit card was used.
- Q: What was the outcome for Jermel Jones after his arrest?
- A: Jones was released from the Leon County Detention Facility after posting a $6,500 bond.
- Q: What actions did Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company take regarding the incident?
- A: The company stated they were aware of the incident and had taken appropriate action concerning the subject employee.
