TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray News) – A man dressed as a Chuck E. Cheese mascot was arrested last week at the kids’ center on Sharer Road in Tallahassee.
According to court records, Jermell Jones, 41, was taken into custody on credit card theft and fraud charges.
Since Jones’s arrest, social media posts have circulated online commenting on children being left traumatized after witnessing officers place handcuffs on the suspect, who was wearing the classic Chuck E. Cheese costume head, outfit and shoes.
The posts have consisted of photos and videos showing Jones being taken into custody while wearing the costume, with the mascot head lying atop a Tallahassee police squad car after officers escorted him out of the restaurant.
Authorities said officers were sent to the Tallahassee restaurant location Wednesday at about 7:30 p.m. regarding a stolen credit card that had been fraudulently used.
A person told officers outside Chuck E. Cheese that they’d hosted their child’s birthday party at the establishment in June. However, following the party, they noticed a little more than $100 worth of fraudulent charges on their card, according to court records.
The person told investigators they obtained surveillance video at a store where one of the charges was made, and they immediately recognized Jones as a Chuck E. Cheese employee in the footage.
Authorities confirmed Jones matched the description and spotted him at the Chuck E. Cheese front entrance wearing regular clothes, a police report said.
According to the arresting officer, “Jones looked very nervous, with wide eyes and squared shoulders in a tensed manner.”
Arrest papers said Jones walked away from officers and returned wearing the Chuck E. Cheese costume.
An officer said Jones briefly resisted being taken into custody, but was eventually handcuffed and escorted out of the restaurant.
Upon searching Jones, law enforcement found receipts linked to the fraudulent charges and “a small amount of marijuana,” according to police.
Jones was booked into the Leon County Jail.
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