'I wanted people to see his face': Witness who recorded alleged McDonald's assault says suspect just 'lost it'
Kate Rebel wants people to watch the full one minute and 21 seconds of video.
Rebel, who didn’t want to use her real last name, recorded a troubling encounter Tuesday afternoon that appears to show a customer verbally berating, then physically attacking staff at a Richmond McDonald’s.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Rebel told CTV News on Thursday.
“Once he whipped the garbage can over (the counter), I think it clicked it to what was happening. It’s really scary,” she added.
The video, which Rebel posted on TikTok, appears to show the customer arguing with staff about his order, which she said she overheard was a Happy Meal.
In the video, a worker tells the man they plan to give him a refund.
He approaches the counter, then shoves over a plexiglass barrier.
A few seconds later, the video shows the man hurl the garbage can over, then destroy a refrigerated display case, sending glass everywhere, Rebel said.
“He didn’t seem intoxicated or on anything,” she added. “He just kind of lost it.”
Police arrested 30-year-old William David Scott Jolly, of Delta, who now faces charges that include mischief, assault with a weapon and assault of a peace officer.
Richmond Mounties – who said they’re seeing an uptick in confrontational, aggressive behaviour from customers directed at front-line workers – say they’re looking into whether mental health may have played a role.
“Clearly this man was not only resistant, he was combative with our officers,” said Cpl. Ian Henderson. “His reaction is completely disproportional.”
Two workers and two officers suffered minor injuries, Henderson added. All are doing OK.
“This incident was quite traumatic for everyone involved,” Henderson said, calling the suspect’s behaviour “totally inappropriate.”
Henderson declined to discuss Rebel’s video directly, pointing to the fact such videos were now part of a criminal investigation.
Rebel said she posted the video of the suspect because she “wanted to people to see his face, to see what he did, to see how awful it was.”
Jolly has been released on bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 18.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.