In Zaragoza, the tale of a serial diner who never pays for meals has resurfaced, drawing attention from bars and restaurants across the city. The pending cases center on a man whose pattern is to visit multiple venues for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, charged to no account, leaving a wake of unsettled bills and cautious business owners. Local authorities have been monitoring the situation since late February, as this modern-day petty thief has continued to dine and dash, turning ordinary evenings out into tense episodes of accountability and law enforcement intervention. A string of incidents has left many restaurateurs lifting their eyebrows and wondering when the next unpayable tab will surface.
The most recent events unfolded early one morning in the city’s Actur district, near the Los Enlaces gas station area, where a taxi ride reportedly became the catalyst for a legal clash. A passenger known as MGG, identified as Hispanic and with no prior criminal record, found himself unable to settle the fare after pointing out financial constraints and a sense of social pressure from friends who were departing. The driver, seeking just compensation for the trip, pursued a remedy through law enforcement channels rather than letting the matter slide into a casual dispute.
The passenger led the pursuit to the door of a building, where a note of alarm rang from a ground-level portal. With no one answering, the driver moved to contact the National Police, dialing room 091 as the situation escalated. The chase wound through the Actur neighborhood until a police patrol—part of the Superior Headquarters Citizens’ Security Brigade in Aragon—arrived at the scene. Officers confirmed that the passenger not only lacked cash but also did not possess a card to authorize payment. Realizing the absence of funds, authorities proceeded with the arrest on a charge of petty fraud.
The driver’s lawyer, Marco Antonio Navarro, requested the immediate arrest and pursuit of a conviction, which the authorities carried out in the following hours. The scene underscored the tension between rapid, informal resolution and formal legal processes that come into play when unpaid fares become a matter of fraud, even at the level of petty offenses. City residents and visitors alike watch closely as such cases test the balance between fair treatment of travelers and protection of service providers who depend on timely compensation for their work.
Another Simpa King
Zaragoza’s entertainment and dining districts remain on alert for what many are calling the return of the “Simpa King,” a nickname that has circulated through town for years. Since February 28, a 47-year-old resident has been spotted visiting various bars and restaurants, seemingly enjoying meals on the house on multiple occasions. The pattern mirrors a previous stretch from last summer, when similar behavior attracted widespread attention from business owners who reported free meals and repeated visits without payment. Reports indicate that the individual often consumes meals at a rapid pace and then disappears, leaving tab after tab unpaid and prompting a cycle of inquiries, detentions, and sometimes brief detentions in local cells.
Observers trace the persona back to Antonio Michael Grimal Marco, a name that has surfaced repeatedly in local records over the years. The person behind the moniker has accrued more than six decades of encounters with law enforcement, with numerous incidents documented before the most recent episodes. A role this person has played in Zaragoza’s social scene since a notable debut appears to be a high-profile streak of public appearances at restaurants and hotels. Journalistic accounts describe a life marked by a string of arrests and a pattern of reappearing in the city’s hospitality venues, creating a paradoxical image of a social figure who thrives in the limelight yet unsettles business owners with unpaid bills.
The narrative has become part of Zaragoza’s ongoing conversation about accountability, street-level crime, and how patrons and service providers navigate the thin line between generosity and exploitation. Residents are urged to stay vigilant, support fair business practices, and report any repeated unpaid visits to establishments. In the end, the city’s authorities emphasize due process and the importance of resolving disputes through lawful channels rather than informal, potentially risky shortcuts. The Simpa King tale continues to unfold, reminding the public that even familiar local rhythms—like a night out in Zaragoza—can take an unexpected turn when money and memory collide, leaving behind a record that draws future attention from courts and communities alike. Sources compiled from local news coverage and public records in Zaragoza.