He broke into a steakhouse - then drank 3 bottles of alcohol and ate $100 in food, police say

A man drank three bottles of alcohol and stole $100 worth of food Jan. 30 during a burglary at the Japanese steakhouse on Veterans Parkway, according to testimony Thursday in Columbus Recorder's Court.

Joseph Martin, 39, pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree burglary. He was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail under bonds totaling $5,000.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court and ordered Martin to stay away from the Fuji Japanese Steakhouse at 6499 Veterans Parkway.

Columbus police were called to the business around 11:42 p.m. Jan. 30 to investigate a break-in. The front door was broken and Martin sitting in the back of the restaurant when officials arrived to the scene.

Officer Matthew Fuller sad he reviewed a surveillance videos that shows Martin breaking into the business through the front door. He allegedly caused $700 worth of damage and stole $139 worth of food.

"While he was there, he consumed three bottles of vodka and beer," Fuller said. "He went through the kitchen eating up all the food."

Martin was taken into custody on the scene.

Sarah Robinson: 706-571-8622, @sarahR_92

This story was originally published February 8, 2018 at 2:52 PM with the headline "He broke into a steakhouse - then drank 3 bottles of alcohol and ate $100 in food, police say."