A late-night fast-food stop in Texas turned into total chaos after police say a drunk man stormed into a Whataburger and started swinging at the manager — only to get beaten back with whatever employees could grab.
The incident unfolded Sunday, Feb. 22, at a Whataburger in Paris, Texas. Officers were called after reports that a man walked inside and began verbally harassing staff. Employees asked him to leave, but according to an incident report, he didn’t go quietly.
Before walking out, the man allegedly warned he would “return and assault the manager” once police were gone.
Police say he made good on that threat.
According to the report, the man came back and punched the manager multiple times. But what happened next looked more like a scene from an action comedy than a fast-food restaurant.
In a now-viral video captured by a customer, an employee can be seen repeatedly striking the suspect with a trash can to stop the attack. Another worker reportedly jumped in, swinging a deep-fryer basket in an attempt to fend him off, according to local outlet Fox 4.
The suspect was later identified as 41-year-old Anthony William Newhuis. Officers found him in the restaurant’s parking lot bleeding from the head, police said.
Newhuis was arrested and charged with assault resulting in bodily injury. Authorities say things didn’t calm down once he got to jail. He was also hit with a criminal mischief charge after allegedly “intentionally” flooding his cell at the Lamar County Jail.
He was released the following day after posting a $2,000 bond on the criminal mischief charge and $2,500 bond on the assault charge. A court date has not yet been announced.
