Over a side of missing fries at a downtown Sanford McDonald’s, police say a late-night argument turned frightening when an employee allegedly pulled a knife on a customer and warned, “You can die today.”
The worker, identified by Sanford police as 23-year-old Michael Benson, was arrested and booked on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after the incident just after midnight at the McDonald’s on French Avenue. Officers say they recovered the knife as evidence, and court records indicate Benson was only days away from finishing a yearlong probation in a separate battery case when this happened.
According to ClickOrlando, the customer first went through the drive-thru and later realized his fries and a drink had been left out of the order. He went inside to complain and told officers that things quickly escalated into a “heated argument” with the manager. Police records cited by the outlet say the customer hit the counter and shouted obscenities, at which point Benson allegedly stepped in, lifted his shirt, took out a knife and told the customer, “You can die today.”
Arrest and where he's being held
Benson was taken into custody and booked into the Seminole County jail on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and is being held without bond at the county facility, according to ClickOrlando. The county’s corrections site identifies the jail as the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford, per the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Where it happened
Police say the confrontation unfolded at the McDonald’s on French Avenue in downtown Sanford. The chain lists the restaurant at 112 S French Ave on its website for McDonald’s. The spot sits near the heart of Sanford’s business district, and the case remains under investigation by local authorities.
What the charge means
Under Florida law, aggravated battery includes committing a battery with a deadly weapon and is prosecuted as a second-degree felony, which carries far tougher penalties than a simple battery charge. The statutory language and penalty details are laid out in Florida Statute 784.045.
Investigation ongoing
Sanford police say the case remains an active investigation and that evidence, including the recovered knife, was collected at the scene. For residents looking up local arrest and detention information, the corrections pages at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office provide details on how inmates are held at the county facility.
