An irate Chipotle customer was caught on camera hurling a burrito bowl at a staff member's face. The unidentified woman was seen aggressively arguing with the employee about her order at the chain's location in Santa Ana on May 12 before she threw the bowl of food at the employee, who was standing right across the counter from her. Video showed rice and beans raining down from the employee's head in the aftermath.
But when police arrived, they said the woman fled the scene through a nearby shopping center. Santa Ana police are now asking the public for help searching for the woman, who was seen wearing a black t-shirt and black pants featuring white polka dots, with her long brown hair pulled back. Investigators believe the woman is between the ages of 18 to 25 and is of Hispanic descent.
As the video spread online, some said they understood the woman's frustration. 'They always skimp you out at that Chipotle. I've always held back from doing this,' one Instagram user joked. 'IT'S BECAUSE THEY LIED ABOUT PUTTING MORE MEAT IN THE FOOD!!! DUH THAT'S WHY SHE WAS UPSET,' another added.
But others were left shocked by the woman's brazen attack. 'Assault charges for food??? Damn, people really need to control their emotions,' one person commented on the Santa Ana Police Department's post. Another argued that 'The belief that "the customer is always right" has encouraged people to think they can act however they please.'
The assault at the Chipotle comes just days before a large group of teenagers trashed another Chipotle in Washington DC, throwing punches at each other at a 'teen takeover' event. The brawl on May 16 descended into further chaos as they began to launch the heavy chairs at each other and started climbing over the chain restaurant's furniture. One teenager, wearing a blue surgical mask with his hood over his head, was seen lifting a wooden high chair over his head and slamming it on another youngster, an online video showed. Both then picked up another chair each and launched it into the air at each other, as the two chairs collided and fell onto the floor.
Footage also captured a father holding his young daughter and son close to him as they sheltered behind a concrete pillar while the chaos unfolded. As other teenagers were seen filming the scene from outside, screams and laughter echoed from the onlookers before blue and red police lights were seen in the reflection of the glass. According to police, multiple teens seen in black clothing and ski masks were told by other youngsters that police had arrived and 'subsequently, all juveniles fled on foot.'
