According to the Tallahassee Police Department, Jermell Jones, an employee at the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant located at 2810 Sharer Road, was arrested on July 23, 2025, on three felony charges: theft of a credit card, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card over two times within six months. The arrest followed a report on July 3 from a victim who noticed approximately $100 in fraudulent charges on her credit card after hosting a party at the restaurant in June. The victim traced the activity to an employee, initially identified as the individual checking stamps at the front door.
When officers returned to make the arrest, they were informed by another employee that the suspect was dressed as the Chuck E. Cheese mascot. During the arrest, Jones reportedly tensed up and resisted, prompting officers to place him in handcuffs to ensure the safety of customers, the suspect, and the officers.
Police recovered the stolen credit card in Jones’ possession. Photos circulating on social media, confirmed by TPD, show Jones being escorted out of the restaurant in the mascot costume, with a later image depicting him unmasked and the mascot head placed on a squad car.
TPD spokesperson Alicia Hill stated that the department has no specific policy on public arrests and relies on officer discretion to ensure public safety and prevent evidence destruction. A CEC Entertainment spokesperson confirmed the incident involved a part-time employee and stated that appropriate action was taken regarding the employee. TPD has not contacted CEC Entertainment about the incident. Jones was booked at Leon County Jail and has been released on bond, according to the County Clerk of Courts website.
