Chuck E. Cheese Has Been Arrested for Credit Card Fraud in Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee Democrat — Tallahassee social media is abuzz as locals share photos and video of renowned mouse, Chuck E. Cheese, being arrested by Tallahassee Police Department officers and being taken out of the restaurant as kids and families look on.

While some questioned why police couldn't wait till the man was out of his costume, another photo later shows the arrested man unmasked with the Chuck E. Cheese mascot head on top of the squad car.

TPD spokesperson Jerome Maples confirmed the legitimacy of the photos and said that TPD arrested a man on three felonies. He was unable to provide further details.

According to the County Clerk of Courts website, the arrested man was charged with theft of credit card, criminal use of personal identification information and fraudulent use of a credit over two times within six months.

There isn't really a good way to show up to the county jail in handcuffs, but one of the definitive worst ways to do so is in full Charles Entertainment Cheese regalia. Maybe the only moment worse than the arrival is the shame of having to pick up your costume on the way out after posting bail. I'd almost rather stay locked up than have to walk out of jail holding a rat mascot head from my arrest during a 6-year-old's birthday party.

What is your recourse as a parent in this situation? I'm not leaving that restaurant without my kids getting a 10,000-ticket bonus and 5 shitty pizzas at bare minimum. You don't get to just have Chuck get arrested in front of my children and then have business continue as usual.

The best part of these visuals, though, is that the cops just arrested Chuck E. Cheese first and asked questions later. They cuffed the rat seemingly without checking who was even in the costume first. Were they trying to protect the magic for the kids? And if so, is it any better to believe that you were just partying with a criminal rodent rather than be told the truth that it's actually just a deadbeat credit card thief dressed up for $8 an hour?

Either way, the fellas at the Leon County Jail have quite a surprise coming for them in intake today.