A New Jersey mother claims she was detained at a cafe after her three-year-old daughter accidentally broke a marble table valued at $1,600. Kathy Denman alleges that staff at the Hazelnut Cafe in Ocean County demanded her credit card and driving licence details before allowing her to leave.
The incident occurred on Sunday when Denman's daughter, Allie, kicked the table, causing it to shatter. In a viral TikTok video, Denman said the cafe's owner repeatedly insisted on a 'you break it, you pay for it' policy. She claims she was kept at the restaurant for 20 minutes.
However, the cafe's owners, sisters Kimberly and Jenna Campfield, deny the allegations. They told NJ Advance Media that Denman was not charged or asked to pay, and that they only requested contact information for insurance purposes. Surveillance footage obtained by the outlet appears to show the child kicking the table before it fell.
Denman later posted a statement on TikTok accepting an apology from the Campfields, saying she wanted to 'move forward peacefully.' The Campfields expressed gratitude that no one was hurt and said they have removed similar tables from their premises to prevent future incidents.
