A Georgia man is facing criminal charges after police say he came up with a wild way to allegedly avoid paying his Red Lobster dinner bill — by calling 911 and claiming there was a medical emergency.
According to Douglasville police, 26-year-old Abdul Rasheed called 911 from inside a Red Lobster restaurant on Highway 5 in Douglasville, Georgia, on September 24. But when officers arrived, they allegedly discovered that Rasheed was OK and that there was no medical emergency requiring their assistance.
Police say the real issue was reportedly a much different one: a dinner bill totaling about $63.
The bizarre incident has now landed Rasheed in jail and has people online questioning just how far someone would go to get out of paying for a meal.
Police Say 911 Call Was Part Of The Plan
According to sources, officers responded to the Red Lobster after Rasheed contacted emergency services. Police said they checked on him and determined that he was fine.
Authorities allege that Rasheed had called 911 because he wanted to avoid paying for his dinner.
Instead of simply leaving the restaurant with an unpaid bill, police say the situation turned into a criminal case after the emergency call allegedly raised concerns that the emergency had been fabricated.
The incident happened September 24, and Rasheed was subsequently arrested.
The Bill Was Only About $63
One of the strangest details in the case is the amount of money involved.
Police say Rasheed was attempting to avoid paying a bill of approximately $63. That means an alleged attempt to skip out on a relatively modest restaurant check ultimately resulted in an arrest and multiple criminal charges.
The case is a reminder that calling 911 for something that isn’t a legitimate emergency can potentially create serious consequences, particularly when authorities believe the emergency was intentionally fabricated.
Emergency dispatchers and police officers respond to calls expecting that someone could be hurt, in danger or in need of immediate assistance.
He Is Facing Multiple Charges
Rasheed was booked into the Douglas County Jail following his arrest.
According to police and the WSB-TV report, he faces charges including theft of services, unlawful conduct during a 911 call and making a false report.
The charges are allegations, and Rasheed is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Police have not suggested that anyone was seriously injured during the incident. Instead, the case centers around the alleged attempt to avoid paying the restaurant bill and the circumstances surrounding the 911 call.
A Dinner Bill Turns Into A Police Case
What might have started as a trip to grab dinner at Red Lobster ended with police officers showing up, an arrest and several criminal allegations.
And that’s probably the part that has people scratching their heads.
If police allegations are accurate, a $63 restaurant bill allegedly turned into a situation involving emergency services and criminal charges.
The case also highlights why 911 is reserved for actual emergencies. Calls to emergency dispatchers can pull police, firefighters or medical personnel away from other situations where someone may genuinely need immediate help.
For now, Rasheed will have to deal with the legal case stemming from the incident.
The Douglasville Police Department and WSB-TV report that he was arrested after officers determined he was OK and allegedly connected the 911 call to an attempt to avoid paying for the meal.
The full outcome of the case will ultimately be decided through the court system.
For a dinner bill that was reportedly just $63, this is definitely one restaurant story that got a whole lot more expensive.
Source: WSB-TV Atlanta.
Leave a Reply