A 26-year-old Georgia man is facing criminal charges after police say he dialed 911 from a Red Lobster and claimed a medical emergency all while sitting on a $63.77 dinner tab.
Douglasville police allege Abdul Hakeem Rasheed, also referred to as Abdul Rasheed and described in local reports as a McDonough resident, made the call around 9:30 p.m. on September 24, 2026, from the Red Lobster on Georgia Highway 5 (near 3100 Bill Arp Road).
Emergency responders and officers arrived. Authorities determined Rasheed did not need medical assistance. Police then linked the 911 call to an alleged attempt to avoid paying the bill.
According to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Rasheed displayed “unlawful conduct” during the 9-1-1 call “by deception and with intent to avoid payment.” The tab was $63.77, the affidavit states.
No public details have emerged about any specific symptoms claimed, the food ordered, or a full 911 transcript. Officers did not transport him for medical care. Instead, they arrested him.
Rasheed was booked into Douglas County Jail on September 25. Jail records list charges of theft of services (Georgia Code § 16-8-5) and unlawful conduct during a 911 call (§ 16-11-39.2(b)(1)). Bonds appeared as $1,500 on the theft charge and $3,000 on the 911-related charge, totaling about $4,500 in some reports.
WSB-TV, citing Douglasville police, also reported a charge of making a false report. Jail records reviewed by other outlets focused on the two statutory charges.
Local coverage from the Douglas County Sentinel, which reviewed arrest warrants, stated he remained free on a $4,500 bond. PEOPLE, checking online jail records later, reported a $3,000 bond figure and that he remained in custody at the time of its review. Status reports have varied slightly across outlets.
Rasheed is presumed innocent. An arrest and charges are not proof of guilt. No court outcome, plea, or trial date has been widely reported.
The case drew national attention because the alleged scheme involved a relatively small restaurant bill, a multi-agency emergency response, and criminal charges that carry potential costs and penalties well beyond $63.77. Misuse of 911 is treated seriously under Georgia law because it can divert resources from genuine emergencies.
Coverage originated with Douglasville Police Department information and local reporting before spreading through outlets including WSB-TV, PEOPLE, TMZ, the New York Post, and others. Red Lobster has not issued a public statement specific to the incident in the available reporting.
