A man walks out of a local restaurant without paying

By Travis Uresk

2/1/24

Vernal, Ut.- Today, February 1, 2024, at approximately 8:44 am, dispatch was informed that a male subject left a restaurant without paying for his meal.

Officer McCurdy was dispatched to Betty's Cafe at 416 West Main Street while other officers searched the surrounding area around the cafe.

It was reported that the male, later identified as 49-year-old George William Merrell, was wearing tan pants, a long button shirt, and curly brown hair. The employees last saw the male on Main Street at 300 West.

While Officer McCurdy was collecting witness statements at the restaurant, an unidentified male mentioned seeing the male in the parking lot at 280 West Main. Officer Oldham located George behind the bowling alley at 168 West Main Street.

The officers asked George to tell them about what had happened at Betty's Cafe today, and he said he couldn't remember.

It was determined there was probable cause that George committed the theft of service due to the approximately he was located in relation to the restaurant and by the description provided by the employees.

George was arrested and transported to the Uintah County Jail.