A Villager was tracked down and arrested after skipping out on his bar tab.
Eric William Berg, 58, of the Village of DeLuna, was apprehended at his home on Thursday evening for theft.
According to the Wildwood Police Department’s arrest record, the New Jersey native went to Lollygaggers Sports Grill in Wildwood earlier that day and ordered a Bloody Mary, a Classic Reuben sandwich, and a Blue Moon draft beer.
Berg began using loud profane language and was asked to leave the premises. The bartender handed Berg, seated at the bar, his $26.70 bill. Berg claimed to have forgotten his wallet and proceeded to leave with a to-go box. A restaurant employee followed him out to the parking lot and photographed the license plate of his 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer.
After leaving Lollygaggers, Berg called the restaurant and yelled profanity at the employees, who offered him the option to pay over the phone. He hung up. Caller ID allowed the restaurant employees to identify Berg’s phone number. They handed cops the phone number and a snapshot of their license plate.
When authorities arrived at Berg’s house, he was unkempt and his shorts were unzipped. He seemed to be inebriated.
Berg stated he called Lollygaggers and attempted to pay his account over the telephone. However, his narrative of events differed from the version offered by restaurant employees.
Berg was taken into jail and placed into the Sumter County Detention Center. He was released after paying a $500 bond.