
A man wearing a full Chuck E. Cheese costume was led out of a Florida restaurant in handcuffs yesterday by police who arrested him on felony charges, according to court records.
As several children looked on, Jermell Jones, 41, was collared by cops inside a Tallahassee eatery where a
kid can reportedly be a kid.
Before the restaurant worker (seen at right) was stuffed into a squad car, police removed his furry, oversized mouse head.
As detailed in a probable cause statement, a woman told police that her “child support Visa debit card” had recently been stolen by a Chuck E. Cheese employee who had used the card for purchases at smoke shops, Circle K, grocery stores, and a Whataburger.
Michelle Allen, the complainant, said she “regularly visits Chuck E. Cheese” and that the last time she had her card in her possession was at her child’s June 28 birthday party at the restaurant/fun emporium.
In a bit of amateur sleuthing, Allen went to one of the businesses where her card had been fraudulently used and asked to see store surveillance corresponding with the date and time of the purchase.
Upon viewing security footage from Don’s Grocery & Meats, Allen told cops she “immediately recognized the suspect as an employee at Chuck E. Cheese.”
Cops yesterday went to the restaurant and asked a worker if Jones--who they had identified as the suspect--“was the one in the mouse suit.” After confirming he was wearing the mascot costume, a cop told Jones, “Chuck E, come with me Chuck E.” Jones allegedly struggled with officers before getting handcuffed.
Jones denied swiping the victim’s Visa, saying that if he had found someone’s credit card at work, “he would have turned it in to Chuck E. Cheese and not kept it.”
However, a frisk of Jones turned up a Visa card with Allen’s name and a receipt for a July 22 purchase made with the stolen plastic.
Jones was booked into the county jail on multiple felony credit card theft and fraud counts. He was subsequently released on bond from the Leon County lockup.
Jones has previously been convicted of theft, cocaine possession, resisting, trespassing, and marijuana possession.

