Police: Man stole tip jar from God Café after being given free drink Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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ARRESTED FOR ROBBING HIM WILL NOW TURN HIS LIFE AROUND. AMANDA: THE GOD CAFE HERE IN LEESBURG IS KNOWN NOT ONLY FOR SERVING UP A GOOD MEAL, BUT ALSO OFFERING A HELPING HAND. THIS MONDAY, RATHER THAN ASKING FOR HELP, ONE CUSTOMER TRIED TO STEAL IT, BUT HE CHOSE THE WRONG BUSINESS. [LAUGHTER] GARY KING IS WELL-KNOWN IN LEESBURG. FOR 10 YEARS, HIS GOD CAFE HAS BEEN A GATHERING SPOT. >> WE ARE HAVING FUN OVER HERE. REPORTER: THE CAFE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS GENEROSITY. GARY: WE JUST GENERALLY HELP PEOPLE WITH WHATEVER NEEDS COME IN. IF THEY NEED A MEAL, WE FEED THEM, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. REPORTER: KING SAYS ON MONDAY HIS GENEROSITY WAS TESTED BY THIS MAN, 26-YEAR-OLD JAMES EDWARD THOMPSON. ACCORDING TO THE ARREST AFFIDAVIT, THOMPSON CAME IN AND ASKED FOR A FREE DRINK. SERVER CHERYL JOHNSON FELT HIS BEHAVIOR WAS OFF, SO SHE ASKED KING, WHO WAS RECOVERING FROM FOOT SURGERY, TO COME OUT FROM THE KITCHEN. THAT’S WHEN THEY SAY THOMPSON GRABBED THE TIP JAR AND RAN. DESPITE WEARING AN ANKLE BOOT, KING, WHO’S A FORMER MARINE, RAN OUT TO TRY AND STOP HIM. GARY: THE WHOLE POINT WAS TO GET HIM AND SO HE DIDN’T DO THIS AGAIN TO SOMEBODY. THE MONEY DIDN’T EVEN CROSS MY MIND. REPORTER: UNFORTUNATELY, KING’S HEAVY BOOT TRIPPED HIM UP AND HE FELL, DAMAGING HIS KNEE. MEANTIME, POLICE ARRIVED AND ARRESTED THOMPSON AFTER STRIKING HIM WITH A TASER. NOW KING, HAS BEEN LEFT UNABLE TO STAND AND UNABLE TO COOK. CHERYL: I HAVE TO DO IT ALL BACK HERE SO HE -- WHILE HE’S LAID UP. REPORTER: KING’S STAFF IS KEEPING THINGS GOING, AND AS FOR KING, DESPITE HIS INJURY HE BELIEVES IT WAS WORTH IT. GARY: HOPEFULLY THIS GUY WILL GET SOME HELP THAT HE NEEDS AND HE’S OFF THE STREET. THANKS, GUYS. REPORTER: GETTING PEOPLE HELP IS KING’S FAVORITE THING TO

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