College student arrested for stealing a cup of ice

Lincroft, NJ – A Brookdale Community College student and family are dumbfounded as to why the manager of the school’s cafeteria called the police after the student took a cup of ice without permission.

According to the report 18-year-old college student Cedric Calero of Manalapan reached over the counter when the cashier wasn’t present, and grabbed a cup. He “then filled the cup at the self-service station with ice and possibly a beverage and left the area without paying for the product.” The beverage would have cost $1.80.

It happened on January 31st. The first year college student said he paid for french fries but the cashier walked away before he could ask for a cup. He took the cup, filled it with ice, and then sat down with friends. He was then approached by the manager. He offered to pay for the cup, but the manager said it was too late because he had already called the police.

As reported by WPIX:

“He said come to the register because you stole from the store,” said Calero

“At that point I asked how much it cost. I pulled out a five dollar bill, they said no,” said Calero.

Cedric Calero faced a judicial board at Brookdale. He said he was first told that he needed to admit theft, serve five hours community service and pay 50 cents restitution.

Instead, he hired an attorney and they settled with the school. Cedric needs to write a two-page essay and the theft charges will not be on his school transcript.

But on Monday he faces a Middletown judge on the theft charges. He could face a fine even jail time. His attorney expects a judge to reduce the criminal charges to a violation.

“This is my first semester at school. I don’t even want to go back next year,” said Cerdric.

Update: The lawyer for Cedric Calero says authorities today dropped a disorderly persons charge against the 18-year-old college student freshman at Brookdale Community College in Middletown.

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