CLEAR LAKE – In what may have been the last straw for the Denny’s restaurant in Clear Lake before it closed, a cook-manager was charged with felony theft for stealing from the establishment.
The Denny’s restaurant located at 2411 Highway 18 East in Clear lake closed on or about September 14. Just two days prior, on September 12, the area manager for Denny’s contacted Clear Lake police to report a loss of money from the business.
After an investigation, Clear Lake police arrested and charged 50-year-old Rufus Manuel of Mason City with second degree theft, a class D felony, for the theft of money taken from the Denny’s restaurant. The dollar amount taken was over $1,000 but less than $10,000. Manuel was employed at Denny’s for a number of years and was at times in charge of the restaurant.
Manuel was jailed and posted $5,000 surety bond on September 16. He now awaits a preliminary hearing on October 10.
Fans of the now-closed establishment had sounded off via social media after Manuel was arrested (although details at that time were not officially announced by Clear Lake police until NIT repeatedly asked, resulting in the above information being available to the public).
Danny Castronuovo of Clear Lake said “that’s the guy that took all the money from dennys now they are closing (sic)”.
Mark Fridley of Clear Lake said “He put 40 people out of a job”.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
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