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By JACQUELINE SEIBEL
jseibel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 26, 2003
Town of Brookfield - More than 40 times this year, police have been called to investigate incidents at a Blue Mound Road establishment, but it's not your ordinary problem-plagued gin mill.
It's Chuck E. Cheese, the pizza, game and birthday party paradise adored by children.
Unruly children are expected amid the euphoria of a singing mouse and the Whack-a-Mole. But Chuck E. Cheese has become, at least for some adults, a place where the frenzy of Skee Ball, pizza, alcohol and manic children translates into emotional overload.
The Chuck E. Cheese in West Allis, the closest to the Town of Brookfield location, has had four calls for police assistance this year to investigate thefts. Police and corporate representatives are baffled why the Town of Brookfield location would have 10 times the number of police calls.
Here's what police reports indicate has happened to patrons at 19125 W. Blue Mound Road:
Michael Moreland, 32, of Milwaukee was punched in the face by an unknown man on Jan. 4 after confronting him because he was rattling a game machine so hard that it was unplugging a neighboring machine on which Moreland's 8-year-old daughter was playing.
Despite being asked to leave by employees, the man turned to Moreland, began yelling obscenities, gestured with his middle finger and continued to rattle the machine. The girl's father became enraged and said to the man, "Boy, who do you think you are? You don't do this kind of stuff at place like this."
The man punched Moreland in the face, causing him to fall backward. In the middle of the altercation, the little girl also fell.
The man left before police arrived.
In another incident, police warned two women Oct. 9 about disorderly behavior after the women exchanged threats and heated words because lettuce from one woman's plate spilled onto the other woman's plate while they were at the salad bar.
On Oct. 19, two other women, Cassandra Pearson, 29, of Milwaukee and Linda J. Millard, 38, of Waukesha received tickets alleging disorderly conduct after Millard had called Pearson an alcoholic, and Pearson dumped her soda in Millard's lap, the police report says. The women were arguing over the treatment of the children with them.
Thefts also a problem
Derek and Jenilyn Diehl of Hartford reported that a cell phone, CD player, Sony PlayStation and other items, valued at $750, were stolen Oct. 2 from their 1997 Chevrolet van while it was parked at Chuck E. Cheese.
On an average weekend, 40 Chuck E. Cheese employees oversee 14 birthday parties every two hours.
"The majority of the problems come from the adults - family members and friends who are there for birthday parties," town police Sgt. Tim Imler said. "It's not the kids."
John Rice, vice president of marketing for CEC Entertainment Corp., said he too was puzzled about the number of calls to Brookfield town police.
"That seems like a lot," he said.
Rice doesn't believe that serving beer and wine contributes to the problem. "Chuck E. Cheese is not the place to party," he said.
Beer and wine are served at the majority of the 460 Chuck E. Cheese restaurants in the United States, he said. "What we find is that not only is it appropriate but it's desirable," he said.
Police have not found a direct correlation between alcoholic beverages and the problems at Chuck E. Cheese, but it is always something police consider, Imler said.
Acting Brookfield town police Chief Chris Perket said Chuck E. Cheese "stands alone" for the number of complaints. Fun World, a nearby entertainment establishment for teens, does not have nearly the volume of calls, he said.
Chuck E. Cheese has had two assaults, several verbal confrontations and five cases of suspected child abuse this year, police reports say. Hang-up 911 calls from the restaurant's public phone and vandalism also bring police officers to the restaurant.
The thefts at the restaurant are also a bit of a mystery for police, since it has one of the best lighted parking lots around, Imler said.
"The parking lot glows like a Christmas tree," Imler said.
Yet theft complaints at the restaurant tripled, from four in 2002 to 13 this year.
The assault of her husband at Chuck E. Cheese has soured Tina Moreland from ever returning to the Town of Brookfield restaurant.
Nine months after the incident, the Morelands returned to Chuck E. Cheese but in West Allis.
"The kids stay a little closer to us now," she said. "They don't feel as free."
This isn't good, Moreland believes.
"Chuck E. Cheese should be a place for kids to run, play and feel safe. But, it's not in Brookfield," she said.
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