Tourist arrested for failing to pay steakhouse bill

Tourist arrested for failing to pay steakhouse bill

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NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -

A 43-year-old tourist from Italy was arrested by the NYPD for failing to pay his bill at upscale steakhouse Smith & Wollensky in Manhattan.

The NY Daily News identified the man as Graziano Graziussi.

Grazziussi spent two nights in jail after he realized he didn't have his wallet on him on Monday night, according to the paper.

The man offered collateral for the $208 bill including his iPhone. He also suggested the bus boy accompany him home and return with the money owed.

But there was no convincing the Third Ave. restaurant's general manager who called police, reported the DN.

But Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that Graziussi's sob story is not entirely true. Kelly said the tourist did have a wallet with about $118 but did not want to hand over any money to the restaurant.

In fact, a responding police officer who speaks fluent Italian spoke to Grazziussi and determined that the Italian man did not want to pay, so the restaurant wanted to press charges.

The resturant management told Fox 5 that it would not comment on the situation.

Grazziussi appeared before a judge who dismissed the charge of theft of services as long as Grazziussi paid the bill.

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