On a recent Tuesday night at a Capitol Hill chicken restaurant, an employee suffered an assault after confronting a trio of disorderly patrons. According to SPD Blotter, the incident occurred on April 22, at about 10:54 p.m., where the 29-year-old man was punched in the face after asking the harassers to leave the establishment.
Reportedly, the three men, at least one of whom is in his 20s, not only consumed their meal but also took to disturbing other customers with slurs and aggressive behavior. A witness, feeling targeted because of their sexual orientation, recounted being subjected to growling, barking, and name-calling. Despite a warning from a manager that their conduct could lead to ejection from the restaurant, the men persisted.
The argument escalated when the employee, working the counter, intervened after the suspects claimed they were short of a chicken tender. What began as a dispute over possibly consumed food turned volatile as one of the suspects resorted to a homophobic slur, as stated in the SPD Blotter report. Police later learned that during the employee's attempt to usher the unruly group out, one of the suspects rebuked, "Don't touch my boy like that," which instantly spiraled into physical violence.
Emerging from the fray with a cut and swelling above his left eye, the employee's injuries were the result of one suspect's violent reprisal. After punching the employee, the suspects were seen fleeing west on East Pike Street from 12th Avenue. Seattle Police, who arrived at the scene of a missing trio, scoured the surrounding area to no avail.
In the wake of the assault, SPD is actively continuing its investigation and is soliciting the public's assistance for additional information, video, or photos that may lead to an arrest. Authorities are urging anyone with details to come forward and contact the SPD Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
