Man Fakes Heart Attacks to Skip Bills

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Posted Saturday, July 5 --- 7:30am

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) -- Police are accusing a Milwaukee-area man of faking heart attacks to avoid paying restaurant bills and cab fares.

Police say the man took a cab to a mall Monday and pretended to have a heart attack. The cab driver left without being paid.

Authorities say the man then had a steak dinner at Applebee's and ran up a $23 bill. He again pretended to have a heart attack.

This time the fire department took him to a hospital. A doctor there recognized the man as having pulled the same stunt in the past few weeks.

He's been charged with defrauding a restaurant as a habitual criminal. He could get up to nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

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Posted by: trina Location: wisconsin on Jul 7, 2008 at 10:55 AM
to poor man at 11:06 am--he doesn't have a right to steal no matter what his situation is. i know that times are hard and the economy is rough but maybe he should clip some coupons for his groceries instead of having a $23 meal at applebee's?? there is no excuse for stealing or robbing

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 6, 2008 at 09:16 PM
OK WHAT IS THIS MANS DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: anon on Jul 6, 2008 at 05:40 PM
That is pretty creative, the only problem is he did it too many times in a short period of time. If he would have spread it out over a long period of time he could have got away with it!

Posted by: Carma on Jul 6, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Lets hope he doesnt really have a heart attack, and it delays medical help due to his prank.

Posted by: Carma on Jul 5, 2008 at 11:31 PM
He deserves more time in jail besides the $10,000 fine. Lets hope he never has a "REAL" heart attack and no one believes him. But what cab company would just leave a person whom is having a heart attack, shouldn't they call for medical help?

Posted by: Nick Location: Madison on Jul 5, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Sounds like an old neighbor of mine, wonder if it is him...

Posted by: Tammy on Jul 5, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I am laughing at the creativity that got this man into trouble. In order to get out of a speeding ticket I've heard of people claiming that theyv'e got diahrea really bad. Does that work? I'm just kidding by the way-they're kind of in the same category of stupid.

Posted by: Poor man on Jul 5, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Hey when people get desparate, they have to do what they have to do. Did any think that maybe, just maybe, He used all his gas to get back and forth to work, had no money for food, as his check now only covers his gas for work. He was hungry and had to decide between gas for work or a meal. Unfortunately, we will be hearing more stories like these, as more and more people are starving, due to the economy.

Posted by: Sandy Location: Madison on Jul 5, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Hmmmm..... so now he's stuck paying a $10,000 fine to get out of a $23 meal and a maybe $20 cab ride! Smart... real smart. I wish I could be a genius like this guy.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 5, 2008 at 08:42 AM
If he went to a mall and exited the cab with a heart attack would'nt that raise a few flags? Same thing when you are at a restraunt, you finish eating then abruptly get up and leave with chest pains? what ever.

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