The Florida Man Hall of Fame has its newest inductee, and this one comes with a giant foam head and oversized mouse shoes.
According to The Miami New Times, the man accused of using a stolen credit card while dressed as Chuck E. Cheese has officially been dubbed a “Florida Man of the Year” honoree, cementing his place in the ever-growing canon of Sunshine State absurdity.
The designation comes from year-end roundups that spotlight the most unforgettable Florida man moments of 2025—stories so strange they feel custom-built for the internet.
Among iguana wranglers, dine-and-dash artists, and accidental superheroes, the Chuck E. Cheese arrest stood out as a moment that blended childhood nostalgia with pure Florida chaos.
The original incident happened on July 23 in Tallahassee, when police were called to a Chuck E. Cheese location over allegations of credit card fraud. Bodycam footage shows officers approaching the restaurant floor while the costumed mascot was actively entertaining kids.
“Chuck E.’s a little bit busy, ma’am,” Officer Jarrett Cruz said as he moved in. Turning his attention to the mouse, he added, “Chuck E., come with me, Chuck E.”
Officers briefly struggled to handcuff the suspect near arcade games as confused children and parents looked on. “Chuck E., stop resisting,” Cruz can be heard saying as the Florida man was detained. One child asked, “What are you doing?” while a parent questioned whether Mickey Mouse would be treated the same way.
The suspect was later identified as 41-year-old Jermel Jones. Police escorted him outside in full costume before helping him remove the mouse head, gloves, and oversized shoes. Jones denied any wrongdoing related to the alleged use of a stolen credit card.
While the Chuck E. Cheese incident earned top-tier Florida man recognition, he wasn’t the only honoree this year.
Another standout was Andrew Morales, better known online as the “Cuban Tarzan.” Morales went viral after wrestling and capturing massive iguanas across South Florida, often diving into pools and streams to retrieve the prehistoric-looking reptiles. One iguana he caught reportedly had a tail longer than the combined tails of most adult iguanas.