Serving up justice for deadbeat diners

By RANDY FURST
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS -- The couple stretched a leisurely meal over five hours at a high-end French-Asian restaurant.

It featured several appetizers, two entrees of freshwater prawns, a good steak and plenty of pricey cocktails.

Then about 10 p.m., when the waiter was bringing dessert, they sneaked out, leaving an unpaid bill of $410.09.

Temple Restaurant owner Thom Pham, who had seated them at a sidewalk table, was fuming.

"I was thinking, 'I hope to God I see these people again,' " he said.

Three hours later, Pham got his wish.

Pham walked into Azia, the upscale Asian-fusion eatery he owns, and found the pair finishing off some expensive drinks after a hearty second dinner that included a rack of lamb.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, I can't believe my wishes are so powerful,' " Pham said.

When they tried to flee, Pham, a former judo instructor, chased Reginald Wilder into an alley, forced him to the ground and held him until police arrived. Lance Burrow was arrested a half block away.

According to a police report, Burrow was dressed as a woman and wearing a wig. There was no explanation how they happened to choose two restaurants owned by Pham.

"They were clearly either very dedicated fans of Mr. Pham's restaurants, or they were incredibly unlucky," said Lt. Amelia Huffman, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis Police Department.

"I call it 'instant karma,' " said Pham.

Burrow, 20, is scheduled to make a court appearance July 25.

Wilder, 43, pleaded guilty and was required to make restitution of $705.86. In addition to a 17-month prison sentence, which was stayed, he also was ordered to serve 150 days in the Hennepin County workhouse.

The twosome were brazen in the June 17 incident. When they left Temple, they took their glassware, filled with cocktails, with them, according to Pham. "We work so hard," he said. "We were upset."

About 1 a.m., after Temple closed for the night, Pham went over to Azia to check on the business. He said he walked into the restaurant and saw the two through a window, seated at a sidewalk table, ordering more drinks. When the waiter left, he saw them stand up as if to leave.

"I went out and told them to sit down," Pham said.

"They acted like, 'We don't know what you're talking about,' " Pham said.

He said Wilder told him he'd settle the bill if Pham allowed "the lady" to leave, and Pham agreed. The waiter brought the bill, but Wilder said he didn't have the money on him. He said he lived across the street and would go to get it.

Pham said he told Wilder he couldn't leave and told the restaurant manager to call police. Tell them it's an emergency, he said, that someone was going to get murdered -- Pham said that is the way he felt.

Wilder fled the restaurant, with Pham in pursuit. Pham caught up with him in an alley and ordered him to stop. Pham said Wilder reached into his pockets, and Pham, fearing he might be armed, took him down with a basic judo maneuver. Pham said he then put his foot on the man's chest and held him until police arrived.

Pham said he then rushed down the street and pointed out Burrow to police, who arrested him also.

Schad Sclavi, the waiter who served the couple at Azia, said he did not realize Burrow was a man, and had no idea they were not going to pay.

"They were very nice people," Sclavi said. "They knew how to order. They obviously do restaurants -- apparently in a bad way."