Police Zap Dad Accused Of Stealing Salad At Chuck E. Cheese

newsnet5.com ^

[mass55th]

"This really needs to stop! If you think we're not living in a police state, you're crazy."

That you Charlie Rangel?

[Stu Cohen]

What happened next is between Mr. Gale and the cops. And I have to say that the fault there lies entirely with Mr. Gale, who had it in his power to completely defuse the situation.

How do we know that?

The man was accused of theft sans evidence (as is made clear by the lack of theft charge), and had two kids in the resturant.

We really don't know what went down.

[Stu Cohen]

Brutalized? It was his own choice to be out-of-control.

"Out of control" is purely subjective. The other customers seemed to back up the story of the guy that was tasered. They thought the cops were out of conrol.

Every person will have a different account of the events.

[mass55th]

"And if a salad bar receipt is lost? --"

When the Manager stated that the police were called only after the situation couldn't be resolved ANY OTHER WAY, I figure: A: the guy couldn't produce a receipt; B: the guy refused to produce a receipt; C: the manager looked in their copies, but couldn't find proof that the guy had paid, and D: All of the above.

"Which tells us nothing about whether they require a hand stamp for the salad bar."

If they require a hand stamp for people who come in with kids, it's obvious that the stamp isn't for the meal itself...it's to make sure the kids leave with the same people they came with. The paper receipt is what is given when you pay for the meal.

"Sorry, -- but 'the conversation' resolved nothing."

Did I say it was supposed to?

[beezdotcom]

Notice they didn't charge the man with theft?

That certainly would have clarified things - but honestly, when a potential petty theft investigation leads to a guy being tasered and hauled away - your average CeC manager is probably just going to drop it at that point.

[Liberandos]

It's not the crime, but the "cover-up"

[Stu Cohen]

That certainly would have clarified things - but honestly, when a potential petty theft investigation leads to a guy being tasered and hauled away - your average CeC manager is probably just going to drop it at that point.

Actually, that would be the absolute worst thing they could do from a legal standpoint.

That could be used as evidence that the entire incident was caused without merit (making a false accusation). Maybe the manager and the customer didn't like each other for other reasons. Mayeb the guy just piled has plate too high and was hogging the croutons.

Chuck E. Cheese should be putting together as much "theft" evidence as they can possibly get their hands on since it escalated to this point. Not the opposite.

[mass55th]

"Please enlighten me. "

Start with post #1 and work your way through. You might learn something.

[R. Scott]

But the Taser is “harmless”!!! Mr. Gale resisted when he “…Gale told the officer "You don't have to do that." after being poked in the chest.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I'll keep in mind who wrote up the incident report. It certainly wasn't Mr. Gale.

Was this restaurant so deserted that the manager "knew" that this person did not pay for his salad? Managers in these kinds of theme restaurants are too damn busy to worry about someone filching from the salad bar.

[beezdotcom]

Actually, that would be the absolute worst thing they could do from a legal standpoint.

No doubt. And, once again, I posit that your average CeC manager is not likely to immediately recognize this. But you're right, you can bet that the regional manager is now having the place dusted for prints...

[mass55th]

"and one of the easy and quick ways of civilly ending a dispute is to produce a piece of evidence, such as a receipt."

I'm wondering if after asking the guy for a receipt, which he refused to produce, and checking the restaurant receipts to see if he paid and found he hadn't, that they then asked him to leave, and he refused to do that too...they then called the cops. It's only one possibility among many.

[Cultural Jihad]

"The other customers" and "they" meaning one person who was interviewed by the reporter.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Larceny is larceny. Supposedly someone who trespasses onto your property but only steals some landscaping and not the safe, well that's all okay, eh?

Whooooooooo boy. I've GOT to save this post.

[r9etb]

How do we know that?

Because Mr. Gale refused to step out of the restaurant when asked to do so.

The man was accused of theft sans evidence (as is made clear by the lack of theft charge), and had two kids in the resturant.

There is nothing in the article to justify your claim of "sans evidence." In fact, given that the manager somehow singled out Mr. Gale in what was most likely the chaotic atmosphere typical of a Chuck E. Cheese, suggests to me that there was a fairly obvious basis for the accusation. As for the "lack of charges," I suspect the cops decided it wasn't worth pursuing the salad theft charges, given that they have him dead to rights on assault charges.

We really don't know what went down.

Indeed. And yet you seem to be suggesting that Mr. Gale is a victim....

[Graycliff]

(The other customers seemed to back up the story of the guy that was tasered. They thought the cops were out of conrol.)
Other customers?
Did you read the original post?
According to witnesses ( witnesses, meaning more than one ) ( Gale ) refused to cooperate with police and a struggle ensued.

Only one witness said the police were out of control and that was Felicia Mayo.

[beezdotcom]

Was this restaurant so deserted that the manager "knew" that this person did not pay for his salad?

That's what makes me think there's more to this story. What drew him to THIS guy? Maybe the manager had some other motivation to antagonize this guy (past disagreements, racial strife, etc.). Maybe the manager overheard him bragging that he didn't pay. Maybe the manager is a mental case. Maybe the manager helped ONCE with the register that day, rang THIS guy up, and knows he only paid for a coke.

Whatever it is, there's some detail that we're missing about how this guy got tagged, because on the surface we can't tell.

[RadioAstronomer]

He gambled. He gambled wrong.

In this day and age, most managers/owners could give a crap if you come or not. There are enough other people that one more or less is inconsequential.

BTW, The Aurora Chuck E. Cheese was where, in the 80s, that four people were killed just after closing. (Not sure if this is the exact same location though)

[Cultural Jihad]

Well, the manager you had spoken to seemed really reasonable. Sad to see so many "Quickdraw McGraws" out there in FReeperland gunning against the police in a knee-jerk way. Those who do so must have serious personal problems in their lives.

[mass55th]

"Wheres the justice when 500 cops follow OJ Simpson around in his SUV for hours refusing to forcibly arrest him and yet this poor schmuck gets tasered in front of his kids"

Ever hear of Rodney King?