In a surreal turn of events that could only happen in Florida, a man dressed as the iconic Chuck E. Cheese mascot was arrested mid-shift at a Tallahassee location of the beloved children’s restaurant and arcade.

The suspect, 31-year-old Jermell J. Jones, found himself in cuffs after allegedly engaging in credit card fraud—while in costume—right in the middle of a children’s birthday party.

It all went down inside the very establishment where Jones worked, suited up as the grinning face of Charles Entertainment Cheese himself.

According to reports obtained by TMZ, Tallahassee police officers didn’t just happen upon the crime—they came in hot, with purpose. Officers entered the venue, walked right up to the oversized rodent, and pulled off the mouse head to reveal Jones’ identity.

“When the costume head was removed by cops, the identity of the rodent was revealed … Jermell J. Jones, who was arrested for theft of a credit card,” the original report stated.

Parents and children celebrating a birthday were left stunned as the police calmly led the costumed culprit out of the building.

One officer reportedly cracked, “Chuck E, come with me Chuck E,” as they escorted the mascot to a waiting patrol car—a line straight from a parody script, but one that played out in real life.

This incident wasn’t Jones’ first dance with credit card fraud. Authorities believe he’s been involved in similar schemes over the last six months.

He now faces multiple charges, including theft of a credit card, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card more than twice within six months.

Adding insult to injury—or perhaps, humor to havoc—police also discovered a small amount of marijuana on Jones during the arrest.

When asked whether he had a medical marijuana license, his response was notably casual: “I was on the way to getting one.”

The specifics of the alleged fraud add a cruel irony to the case.

According to the police report, Jones racked up exactly $105.57 in fraudulent charges on a debit card that a woman had lost after attending a child’s birthday party—presumably at the same Chuck E. Cheese where he worked.

The venue, known for bringing smiles to children’s faces with arcade games, pizza, and birthday celebrations, was instead the stage for a bizarre crime.

Jones was booked and later released on $1,000 bond early Thursday morning.

It remains unclear how he obtained the stolen card or whether his employer was aware of any prior allegations, but police seem confident this was not an isolated incident.

The arrest, already odd due to the suspect’s attire, quickly went viral online, with many commenting on the absurdity of seeing Chuck E. Cheese himself—oversized head and all—being marched out by the police in front of stunned families.

The irony was not lost on social media, where jokes about “the mouse needing bail cheese” and “arcade justice” were quick to follow.

While the case continues through the legal system, it’s a safe bet that Jones’ days as a mascot are over.

The incident also raises questions about background checks and security at family-focused venues where employees are entrusted not just with entertainment, but often with access to personal and financial information of guests.

For now, Charles Entertainment Cheese has one less performer—and Florida, once again, has gifted the internet with a bizarre crime story that seems too ridiculous to be true.

WATCH BELOW:

@courtneygooddd

♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧