A North Carolina man allegedly turned a neighborhood Little Caesars into his own pop-up pizza shop — without permission — and now he’s facing a stack of felony charges.
According to the Kinston Police Department, officers responded to a breaking-and-entering call at a local franchise in the small town of Kinston, approximately 80 miles from Raleigh-Durham, after a major winter storm blanketed the area with snow.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, February 1, arrived at a critical time for the area. Much of the community had just dug out from up to 14 inches of snowfall, according to a National Weather Service report given to The Charlotte Observer, and many businesses were still recovering or closed.
Police say 41-year-old Jonathon Hackett, a former employee of the store, unlawfully entered the restaurant after hours. But instead of trashing the place, investigators allege he fired up the kitchen.
Officers claim Hackett went inside, prepared pizzas, sold them to customers, and kept the proceeds. While some may call this a hustle, the police called it a misdemeanor crime.
In a statement, police did not specify how many pies were made or how much money changed hands during the first round of Hackett’s alleged crime spree.
Things escalated when he allegedly returned for round two.
“During the second incident, Hackett again broke into the business while it was occupied by employees,” police said, adding that workers tried to stop him from getting inside. That confrontation reportedly turned physical, and Hackett was injured during the struggle.
He was transported to a hospital for treatment and later taken into custody after being released.
Hackett now faces multiple charges, including felony breaking and entering, obtaining property by false pretenses, larceny after breaking and entering, a misdemeanor breaking-and-entering count, and violating the city’s curfew.
Little Caesars, which operates locations nationwide, has not publicly commented on the incident.