It's the stuff of every waitress's dreams. A wealthy customer comes in and is so pleased with the service received that she leaves one big fat tip that makes up for all of the day-to-day drudgery of the job. That's just what happened to Minnesota waitress Stacy Knutson, a mother of five, only her dreams were quickly dashed after she received an enormous tip.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, Knutson was working at the Moorhead Fryn’ Pan restaurant when a customer left a to-go box from another restaurant on the table. Not wanting her to be without the leftovers, Knutson followed the woman out into the parking lot to give it back to her. But the woman refused it and said, “No, I am good; you keep it.”
While most might have been ready to toss it, Knutson noticed the box felt a little heavier than your average half-eaten ruben, so she took a peek inside. That's when she saw the major tip she'd just been given -- $12,000!
Now some people would take that tip and go pay their bills, go on a shopping spree, or otherwise celebrate their good fortune. But upstanding citizen that she is, Knutson did the prudent thing and called the police. In a lawsuit, she stated, "Even though I desperately needed the money as my husband and I have 5 children, I feel I did the right thing by calling Moorhead Police."
Yes, she's filed a lawsuit, because instead of getting rewarded for her honesty, she got screwed. After she called, police came and seized the money, but told her that if no one claimed it, she would get it back in 60 days. Fair enough. But then, when the 60 days were up, they said she still couldn't have it because it was part of a drug investigation. Instead she got a $1,000 reward.
Why is it part of a drug investigation? Not because there's any suspicion around the waitress, but rather because the money supposedly smelled like marijuana. Outrageous. Her attorney told the paper: “That would mean that any money that ever had any drugs on it could be confiscated by the police at any time. You know how ridiculous that would be?” Really ridiculous.
So now she's suing, and I hope she wins. She believes the money was donated by someone who knew she and her husband were struggling, which makes the whole thing more frustrating if that's the case. Even if it is drug money, what better use of it than to help a struggling family.
Do you think it's outrageous that this woman doesn't get to keep the tip she was given?
Image via AMAgill/Flickr
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Comments 54
I think its outrageous that she even turned it in. It was a tip.
I hope people understand that all money has traces of drugs. The police have no case. This is a cover up because they have already spent it.
why the hell would she call the cops? she sounds like an idiot. the ppl said keep it... so keep it!
I sure as hell wouldn't call the cops. I agree WhitneySM... if you try to do the right thing you'll end up getting screwed... majority of the time. I still hope she wins and gets the cash back, though.
Sounds like my police department. They took 10,000 from a mans glove box that he had just got from inheritance. The police said if he wanted it back he would have to prove he got it that way. He got the proof and took it to the police and they said they didnt have the money anymore it had been spent on the department.
Poor thing. She should definitely get to keep it. But I agree with what others have said ...she should have never turned it in to begin with. I know you want to do the right thing, but not at the expense of the right thing not being done by others (in this case the PD) and then you end up getting screwed. Hope she wins her lawsuit.
Why on earth would she call the police? Apparently she hasn't been paying enough attention to the news lately to realize that the police are just as corrupt as the rest of the government. She was dumb enough to call the police because somebody gave her a gift she felt she didn't deserve, well too bad so sad she got what you deserved when the money was confiscated.