A man portraying Chuck E. Cheese was arrested wednesday in Tallahassee on suspicion of credit card fraud. The incident occurred inside a local Chuck E. Cheese resturant, with photos of the arrest circulating widely on social media.
Authorities identified the arrested individual as Jermell Jones. Police allege that Jones, while in costume, stole a customer’s credit card and subsequently used it for unauthorized purchases. Surveillance footage and witness accounts reportedly led to the arrest. Images from the scene show police escorting Jones, still in the Chuck E. Cheese costume, out of the establishment.
The arrest drew public commentary, with some questioning the timing and location of the apprehension. A Facebook user expressed concern about the arrest taking place in front of children.In response, Tallahassee Police Department spokesperson Alicia Hill stated that officers had initially hoped to avoid handcuffing Jones and to conduct the arrest discreetly. Though, she explained that Jones became resistant upon being approached by officers, necessitating the use of handcuffs for the safety of everyone present, including customers, jones himself, and the officers.
CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese, has indicated that it has taken “appropriate action” in response to the incident.
