HomeCops and Crime

Florida Chuck E. Cheese Employee Busted In Mouse Suit For Alleged Credit Card Theft

Chuck E. Cheese Employee Unmasked and Arrested

Chuck E Cheese Gets Locked Up (X)
Chuck E Cheese Gets Locked Up (X, Bruce Snyder)

In a bizarre scene that unfolded before surprised children, a Chuck E. Cheese employee was dramatically arrested in his full mouse costume on July 23, facing felony charges for alleged credit card theft. Forty-one-year-old Jermel Jones stands accused of pilfering a customer’s debit card in June and racking up unauthorized purchases.

The unusual bust occurred after Michelle Allen, a mom who’d hosted her child’s birthday party at the restaurant, noticed suspicious activity on her “child support Visa debit card.”

READ: North Carolina Gamer Struck By Lightning While Livestreaming: “He Was Really Twitching”

Unfamiliar transactions at various locations, including smoke shops and fast-food joints, quickly caught her eye. Allen’s own investigation led her to store surveillance footage, where she immediately recognized the culprit: a Chuck E. Cheese employee.

When Officer Jarrett Cruz arrived at the restaurant and confirmed Jones was indeed in the mouse suit, he approached the costumed character with the memorable command, “Chuck E, come with me Chuck E.” Despite Jones’s alleged resistance, he was cuffed and his oversized mouse head removed before being escorted to a patrol car.

READ: Bartow Man Arrested For Eagle Lake Arson, Burglary After Fleeing Fire: Polk County Sheriff

Jones denied the theft, claiming he’d found a card but never used it. However, a search reportedly turned up Allen’s Visa and a receipt for a fraudulent purchase.

Booked on multiple felony credit card theft and fraud counts, Jones has since been released on bond. Records also show a history of prior convictions, including for theft and drug possession.

Chuck E. Cheese has acknowledged the incident, stating they’ve taken “appropriate action.”

Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.

Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.

Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.