GARDEN GROVE : Man Held in Alleged Charity Scheme

A Huntington Beach man was arrested when he attempted for the second time to collect money from employees at Perry’s Pizza for a bogus charity, police said Tuesday.

Employees at the Chapman Avenue restaurant immediately contacted police when they recognized John Michael Herzer as the same man who allegedly duped them into donating $95 that he said would be sent to a charity in June.

Herzer, 37, was arrested at the scene Monday without incident on a misdemeanor charge of petty theft and was booked into Orange County Jail, Garden Grove Police Investigator Richard G. Harrison said Tuesday.

“He made the mistake of going back to the same business two times,” Harrison said.

Herzer was initially charged with petty theft, but Harrison said the self-employed man is suspected in several other similar scams throughout Orange and San Diego counties and may still face felony charges.

“We’re continuing our investigation, and felony charges may be filed in the future,” Harrison said.

Under the scam, Herzer would allegedly contact a restaurant, find out the name of the manager and then show up at the establishment when the manager was not there. He would then tell employees that the manager had agreed to donate to a charitable cause such as the Orange County Cop Bowl or 911 Bowl, two popular charity sporting events, Harrison said.

“He would leave a receipt, and it would all look very legitimate,” Harrison said. “And people, especially restaurants, really like to donate to things like that.”

The receipts Herzer used were taken from Stuart & Bradley Co., which contracts for legitimate charities, Harrison said.

Possible victims of the scam are asked to contact Harrison at the Garden Grove Police Department at (714) 741-5825.