Posted on 02/09/2010 9:48:35 PM PST by dennisw
An Oakland man suspected of stealing meals at restaurants throughout the Bay Area might have run out of luck after a $60 gourmet feeding in Tiburon, authorities said.
Dwayne Kerry Morgan, 43, was arraigned Friday on charges of burglary, giving false identification and petty theft with prior convictions, said Deputy District Attorney Linda Witong.
The incident occurred Thursday night at Servino Ristorante, an upscale Italian restaurant on the Tiburon waterfront, where a man ordered a robust meal of Monterey calamari with marinara ($13.95); the Grigliata Mista plate of grilled ahi, king salmon, calamari steak, prawns and mixed vegetables ($24.95); a glass of Servino Reserve zinfandel, Mendocino County ($9); and, for dessert, the Profiteroles Dwayne Kerry Morgan, 43, was arraigned Friday on misdemeanor charges. (DMV photo) puff pastry filled with French vanilla ice cream covered with dark Godiva chocolate ($7).
After the meal, the man's waitress handed him a billfold containing the tab. The man appeared to put money in the billfold and handed it back to the waitress.
"She said, 'Thank you, sir.' And he said, 'No, thank you!'" said Tiburon police Sgt. Shane Ford.
The man left, and the waitress opened the billfold to find no money inside.
Employees went out to the street, confronted the man, and flagged down police. As it happened, police were posted on Main Street that night to keep watch on the local hotels, which feared a possible strike by a gunman who has robbed three Marin hotels in the past several days, Ford said.
Police arrested the suspect, who initially gave a false name but then identified himself as Morgan as police prepared to check his fingerprints. Morgan told police he had been running similar operations at many other restaurants, and often other customers would step in to pay his bill when a dispute ensued with the staff, Ford said.
"He said he does that twice a day throughout the Bay Area," Ford said. "Twice a day he'll go in and eat a meal and leave without paying."
Morgan remained in custody Friday in lieu of $20,000 bail.
The district attorney's office is also seeking to revoke Morgan's probation in another case. Last month, he was convicted of defrauding an innkeeper in San Rafael, Witong said.
He should have had a V-8. I thought the article was going to be about a guy in a Hyundai.
He doesn't look like he's related to Freddie at all, to me.
There was no freeloader like that freeloader. I never missed his show when I was a kid....and there’s no way the FREELOADER in the story could ever be related.
Bears a striking resemblance to our President.
It should be obvious why the first lady is concerned about her people’s obesiety.
That was funny - almost makes the Profiteroles sound like a band...
Not really. This guy looks nothing like Obama.
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