Man dials 911 to skip paying his $63.77 Red Lobster bill. Police check his 'emergency' — then take him to jail
Rasheed thought he'd planned a smart dine-and-dash move, but the cops weren't buying it at all
Most people looking to ditch a dinner check just slip out through the back door. But 26-year-old Abdul Hakim Rasheed decided to call 911 instead. After the Douglasville, Georgia, resident finished his dinner at a local Red Lobster restaurant on September 24, 2026, he did something unexpected. Rather than pulling out his wallet, he reported a medical emergency to dispatchers. At first, this caused concern, but when the paramedics checked Rasheed, they reported he was completely fine. It was then that they realized that this was just an elaborate scheme to get out of paying his $63.77 meal tab, as reported by KTVB7 on October 4, 2026, and also posted on Facebook by Fox 5 Atlanta on October 6, 2026, gaining 539 likes so far.
Dinner in Douglasville
Rasheed walked into a local Red Lobster for what seemed like a routine dinner. He sat down, ordered his meal, and finished eating just like any other patron in the dining room. But things escalated the moment the server dropped off the $63.77 bill. Instead of reaching for cash or a card, the 26-year-old reached for his phone. He then called 911 and told them he was having a medical emergency.
Paramedics call his bluff
Following the call, emergency crews hurried to the restaurant to treat what they believed was a man in severe distress. Paramedics ran through their standard vital checks and quickly realized that there was nothing wrong with Rasheed. They noted that he was perfectly fine. Then they found out that he had faked an emergency just to avoid paying the $63.77 check. According to the investigators, the suspect showed a clear "intent to avoid payment" once the checks were complete.
From dining to booking
Police stepped in the moment Rasheed's facade collapsed. Officers took Rasheed into custody and transported him to the local jail. Authorities slapped him with three separate misdemeanor counts of theft of services, making a false report, and unlawful conduct during a 911 call, as per PEOPLE. An administrative judge soon set his bond at $3,000, turning an unpaid $63.77 seafood feast debt into a much more expensive legal headache.
Dine-and-dash is a significant issue
It's safe to say most dine-and-dashers don't call 911, but this case does highlight the prevalence of this tactic. According to a 2015 Travelzoo survey of 9,577 adults across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, and China, 13% of Americans said they had left a restaurant without paying the check. That was the highest rate among the five countries surveyed, compared with 9% of Canadians, 8% of Britons, 7% of Germans, and 6% of Chinese respondents.
'A $64 meal turned into a $3,000 bond'
As for the people, they were both stunned and sympathetic toward Rasheed. Giannis Paramanis wrote, "$63 meal turned into a $3000 bond. You know what…my life ain’t so bad." At the same time, Chiconda Jones commented, "He was hungry! Y’all had to lock him up for $63; nobody could help the man out. Help us, Jesus."
More on Scoop Upworthy
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