20150629

Old woman chose jail over paying $7.45 Waffle House bill


FORT PIERCE - In 2008, given the option of paying her $7.45 Waffle House check or going to jail, Maryanne O'Neill chose the latter.

The 66-year-old woman ordered coffee and a sandwich about 3:45 a.m. Saturday at the restaurant in the 7100 block of Okeechobee Road, a Waffle House worker told police in a report.

O'Neill finished both and then left, telling the Waffle House employee she was going across the street to see a friend but would return shortly.

The Waffle House worker notified authorities after O'Neill, of the 100 block of Maple Street, refused to settle the bill.

When police arrived, an officer told O'Neill to pay up or go to jail.

"O'Neill said she was not going to pay for her food," the report states. 

"I asked O'Neill again to pay for her food and she plain refused to."

She was taken to jail.