Crime Blotter: Man Arrested for Cheap Tip

— -- A New York man is arrested for being a poor tipper; a fast-food worker allegedly tries to spit out revenge on a police officer; and a $100 dare turns hairy for a Pennsylvania man. Take this valuable tip: Dares almost lead to a place on the Crime Blotter.

An Arrestingly Cheap Tip

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — Patrons, take note: Make sure you tip your waiters and waitresses adequately or you could be arrested.

Humberto A. Taveras, 41, found this out the hard way when he was arrested for leaving an inadequate tip after he and eight friends dined at Soprano's Italian and American Grill on Sept. 12.

Soprano's Italian and American Grill requires that parties of six or more people leave an 18 percent gratuity and restaurant officials say that gratuity requirement is written on all their menus.

However, Taveras said that no one informed him and his party about the mandatory tip and they did not see a written notice on their menus. When he and his friends were dissatisfied with the food, Taveras said, they left a tip of under 10 percent.

"They chased us down like a bunch of criminals," Taveras said in reports.

Restaurant owner Joe Soprano said it was the behavior of Taveras and his group, not the money, that fueled his decision to call the police. He said they "practically threw food" at him and his staff.

Taveras was charged with misdemeanor theft of services, but authorities declined to prosecute him after determining that a restaurant patron can't be forced to leave a gratuity.

Prosecutors said establishments have to call it a surcharge or service charge, not a tip, in order to make it a mandatory add-on charge for large parties.

Phlegmatic Revenge

LUFKIN, Texas — A Texas fast-food worker and his cohort face felony charges after he allegedly spit in the drink of a police officer in a revenge prank-gone-wrong.

Nathaniel Allen Baker, 22, and Brian Strban, 19, have been charged with second-degree tampering with a consumer product after their alleged involvement in the Sept. 3 spitting incident at a Sonic Drive-in in Lufkin. According to the police affidavit, the officer — whose name has not been released — became uneasy when he ordered a soft drink from Baker and then noticed several workers inside the Sonic Drive-In laughing.

When the officer inspected his drink, he saw what appeared to be phlegm in his cup. Lab tests confirmed the officer's suspicions.

The affidavit says Strban has admitted encouraging Baker to spit in the drink. Authorities say Strban planned the phlegmatic revenge after he recognized the officer as a law enforcement official who had previously interrupted a romantic tryst between him and his girlfriend in a neighborhood parking lot.

Both Strban and Baker have been fired from Sonic Drive-In. If convicted, they both could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

The Hairpiece Dare

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A $100 dare turned hairy for a Pennsylvania man who swiped a toupee from another man's head at a restaurant.

Paul Goudy, 25, pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking on Sept. 12 for ripping the hairpiece off Edward Floyd last January. Floyd, 60, was sitting in Fisaga restaurant when Goudy snatched his hairpiece.

Goudy told authorities another man, Matthew Flinchbaugh, offered him $100 to take the hairpiece. Flinchbaugh is expected to appear in court in October on solicitation charges.

Goudy was sentenced to 23 months probation, fined $500 and ordered to write an apology to Floyd. Floyd has said he is exploring a civil lawsuit against Flinchbaugh but may not pursue it if Flinchbaugh apologizes.