Oklahoma City man accused of paying for meal with fake money, punching manager who chased after him
06/02/2023 2:21 pm PDT
OKLAHOMA CITY (TCD) -- A 33-year-old man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly used fake money to pay for a meal at a local Mexican restaurant and assaulted a manager who confronted him about it.
Oklahoma County Jail records show Dakota Barton was booked on charges of trafficking in illegal drugs, assault and battery, uttering forged instruments, defrauding an innkeeper, aggravated assault and battery, and defrauding inn, hotel, or restaurant.
According to court documents cited by KOKH-TV, Oklahoma City Police responded to Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant on Sunday, May 28, after receiving a call from someone at the establishment who said Barton and a blonde woman would not pay for their meal. Police arrested Barton at the scene, but the woman had fled by the time officers arrived.
Barton and the woman reportedly ordered $41.82 worth of food and put a $100 bill on the table as they left. The manager, Juan Garcia, told KFOR-TV people leave cash on the table "all the time," but this time was different. As he went to pick it up, he saw the bill had "for motion picture" on it.
Garcia said he followed them out of the restaurant and asked them to pay, but they "refused" and instead "took off running across the street."
Garcia followed them, and Barton allegedly responded by punching him in the face several times.
KOKH reports officers discovered a powdery substance in Barton’s possession, which turned out to be 1.75 grams of fentanyl.
Garcia told KFOR, "I feel horrible about the situation. We’re just trying to make a living, trying to get by."
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