In one of the most bizarre arrests of the year, a Florida man was taken into custody while fully suited as Chuck E. Cheese — the beloved mascot of the children’s entertainment chain. The incident unfolded this week at a Tallahassee location, where police allege the costumed employee, 41-year-old Jermell Jones, stole a customer’s credit card and used it to make fraudulent purchases.

According to a police report obtained by media outlets, the arrest was the result of a customer’s own investigation. After celebrating her daughter’s birthday at the venue last month, the woman noticed suspicious charges on her bank statement. Determined to find the culprit, she visited one of the locations where the card was used and obtained surveillance footage of the transaction — immediately recognizing the man as a Chuck E. Cheese employee.

When officers arrived at the restaurant on Wednesday, Jones was still wearing the full Chuck E. Cheese costume. Police say they hoped to escort him out without handcuffs, but when Jones resisted, they made the arrest on the spot for safety reasons. That decision led to a surreal and now-viral moment: the sight of Chuck E. Cheese being handcuffed in front of stunned children and parents.

Authorities recovered a stolen bank card and a receipt allegedly tied to the fraudulent purchases. In total, investigators said the charges amounted to US$105.57. Jones denied the allegations, claiming he had no knowledge of any stolen cards or unauthorized activity.

He now faces three felony charges: theft of a credit card, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card more than twice in a six-month period.

The internet was quick to react. “Y’all couldn’t let this man change out of his Chuck E. Cheese costume before arresting him in front of those kids?” one Facebook user asked, sharing photos of the unusual scene. Others questioned the optics of the arrest, while many were simply stunned by the circumstances.

Tallahassee Police Department spokesperson Alicia Hill defended the officers’ actions, saying the goal was to minimize disruption but safety had to come first. “It is unfortunate that the person who is subject of this investigation and who we had probable cause on happened to be … in costume,” she said.

While Chuck E. Cheese is known for entertaining kids with pizza, prizes, and arcade games, this incident proves that sometimes the real drama isn’t on stage — it’s in the costume.