NYPD: Italian Tourist Arrested For Refusing To Pay Bill At Manhattan Steak House
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An Italian tourist was arrested after he refused to pay a pricey tab at a fancy Manhattan steak house, police said.
Graziano Graziussi rang up a $208 bill at Smith & Wollensky on the Upper East Side on Monday night, police said.
Graziussi told a waiter that he didn't have his wallet to pay the tab, according to published reports.
NYPD: Italian Tourist Arrested For Refusing To Pay Bill At Manhattan Steak House
Graziussi reportedly offered the restaurant his iPhone for collateral and suggested he go back to where he was staying to return with the money.
However, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the 43-year-old lawyer from Naples did have a wallet with $118, but refused to hand it over.
Graziussi claimed not to speak English, but a patrol supervisor who responded to the scene was fluent in Italian and was able to translate.
"He conducted the interview and determined that the individual simply did not want to pay," Kelly said.
Graziussi was arrested on charge of theft of services and released on a desk appearance ticket.
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