Police release bodycam of arrest at Chuck E. Cheese in Tallahassee

Tallahassee police released body camera footage Friday showing officers handcuffing a Chuck E. Cheese employee inside a crowded arcade on July 23 after he was accused of using a customer’s credit card, a surreal scene that left children crying and parents pleading with officers to wait until after a birthday party. The suspect, identified in reports as 41-year-old Jermel Jones or Jermell Jones, was detained inside the restaurant and later placed in a patrol car, police said.

The video shows officers entering the venue and approaching the costumed mascot near arcade games. One officer can be heard telling onlookers, "Chuck E. is a little bit busy, maam," before calling to the mascot, "Chuck E., come with me." Bodycam footage captures a brief struggle as officers moved to handcuff the man in the mouse suit and repeatedly told him to stop resisting and not to cause a scene. Children in the restaurant can be heard crying and shouting, "Chuck E, no," while a woman attempts to shield her child from the arrest.

Officers removed the mascot head and oversized costume after escorting the suspect outside and performed a pat-down, according to the footage. The man denied wrongdoing on...