A Texas man was arrested after allegedly pretending to be an off-duty police officer in an attempt to receive a discount at a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Many businesses offer discounts to police officers, military personnel, teachers, healthcare workers, and other public servants, but customers are typically required to show valid identification to qualify.
According to MyRGV, 59-year-old Eric Michael Rodriguez visited a Chick-fil-A drive-thru on June 23 and claimed he was an off-duty police officer. When staff asked for identification, he was unable to provide proof and was denied the discount.
Police said Rodriguez became upset after being refused the discount, prompting employees to report a disturbance at the restaurant. Rodriguez later claimed staff had treated him rudely.
Investigators also alleged that Rodriguez displayed a fake police badge to employees, although he denied doing so, saying he only showed his veteran identification card. He also argued that no crime had been committed and that officers were wasting their time.
Rodriguez was ultimately charged with falsely identifying himself as a police officer. He was released on a $2,000 bond on June 24.
The charge is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas and carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The case remains pending.