San Diego Police Say No Open Cases Yet In Alleged Serial Dine-And-Dash Incidents As Hospitality Industry Continues Sharing Allegations

San Diego police say they currently have no open cases tied to the man accused by restaurant workers of repeatedly dining and leaving without paying across dozens of area establishments, even as members of the city’s hospitality community continue circulating reports of alleged incidents.

The situation first gained attention after a dramatic confrontation in downtown San Diego involving a bartender from Gaslamp Quarter pub Stout Public House and a man industry workers claim had previously skipped out on tabs at numerous restaurants and bars across the city. Video of the encounter spread quickly across social media earlier this month, prompting widespread discussion among bartenders, servers, and restaurant owners who said the individual had allegedly targeted establishments across San Diego.

In response to a media inquiry from SanDiegoVille, the San Diego Police Department confirmed that investigators are not currently working any open cases connected to the alleged pattern of dine-and-dash incidents.

“At this time, we do not have any open cases related to the subject named,” SDPD Media Relations Sergeant Saum Poorsaleh wrote in an email response.

Poorsaleh said the case number previously circulating within the hospitality community was connected to an earlier incident for which the reporting party lacked sufficient details to pursue a criminal investigation at the time.

“The events related to the incident number you provided was tied to an incident which occurred a few months prior and the complainant didn't have details for a case at that time,” Poorsaleh wrote.

Police also said they checked several divisions that contain high concentrations of restaurants and bars and did not find additional reports tied to the same individual.

“I have checked some divisions where we have a higher density of bar-style establishments and there were no other cases listed,” Poorsaleh said, adding that additional reports could still exist through online or telephonic reporting systems.

The department emphasized that investigators rely heavily on victims coming forward in order to establish patterns of theft and pursue charges.

“Having him now identified, and if cases come forward or victim establishments feel they want to report a crime, we can align the information which will speed up the initial investigations,” Poorsaleh said.

“We urge, if establishments have been defrauded, to please report the crimes. We may not know of trends or crimes if we don't get that call to write up a case for our victims.”

The alleged scheme first came to broader attention through posts shared by Stout Public House bartender Taylor McQuade, who described recognizing the same man he believed had previously left the restaurant without paying. According to McQuade, the individual allegedly used a consistent story when visiting bars and restaurants, telling staff he had recently learned he was cancer-free and wanted to celebrate.

McQuade said the emotional story often prompted bartenders and patrons to congratulate the man as he ordered food and drinks before ultimately leaving without settling the bill. Following the incident at Stout Public House, McQuade said photographs of the individual began circulating among hundreds of hospitality workers in local industry group chats.

Within those conversations, bartenders and restaurant staff alleged that similar incidents had occurred at a wide range of establishments across San Diego, though those claims have not been independently confirmed by law enforcement. In total, roughly two dozen restaurants and bars have been mentioned by hospitality workers in connection with the alleged dine-and-dash incidents. The establishments cited span neighborhoods including downtown San Diego, North Park, Mission Hills, Coronado, Del Mar, and other parts of the county. Following the initial reporting on the alleged serial dine-and-dasher, additional bartenders, servers, and restaurant employees came forward with their own accusations and accounts, with estimates now of around 40 establishments targeted.
McQuade said the situation escalated on Valentine’s Day when he spotted the man walking past Stout Public House in the Gaslamp Quarter. McQuade confronted the individual outside Stout, leading to a foot chase through parts of downtown while he relayed their location to police by phone. Video shared online shows the confrontation and pursuit before officers arrived and detained the man.

While the incident sparked widespread attention within the restaurant community, police say the lack of formal complaints may explain why investigators have not yet opened a broader case. Dine-and-dash incidents are typically investigated as theft, but individual restaurants must file reports in order for police to pursue charges or connect incidents that may be part of a larger pattern.

Restaurant workers say the situation highlights a broader challenge for the hospitality industry. Individual dine-and-dash incidents often involve relatively small amounts, a few drinks or a meal, which can discourage businesses from pursuing formal reports even when the same individual appears to be targeting multiple establishments. However, repeated incidents across numerous restaurants can quickly add up, particularly when alcohol is involved.

Police say restaurants that believe they may have been victims of dine-and-dash thefts should contact SDPD to file a report so investigators can determine whether the alleged incidents represent a broader pattern.

SanDiegoVille will continue following the story as more information becomes available.

Originally published on March 10, 2026.