Matthew-Martinez
By Isaac Ray
A Coral Springs man was arrested for burglary and battery after entering the kitchen of a McDonald’s then assaulting a drive-thru employee who had allegedly been inappropriate towards his girlfriend.
On February 25, Coral Springs Police responded to the McDonald’s located at 11655 West Sample Road about an assault in progress. The manager of McDonald’s told police a man had jumped the counter, entered the restaurant kitchen, and started to fight with an employee.
According to the report, when officers arrived, they witnessed a man, later identified as Matthew Martinez, 18, behind the counter that separates the employees from the customers. Officers soon encountered a victim with obvious swelling and injuries to his left eye and abrasions to his right hand.
The victim told officers he was working the restaurant’s drive-thru station when he heard screaming coming from behind him. As he turned around, the victim said Martinez was charging towards him and struck him in the face. A physical altercation ensued in which the victim told officers he was forced to defend himself.
According to police, co-workers of the victim broke up the fight just as they arrived. Customers who were witnesses to the assault also intervened and called 911.
Martinez’s girlfriend works at the restaurant, and the altercation stemmed from alleged rude comments the victim made towards her. Martinez’s girlfriend told police she told Martinez the victim had made inappropriate jokes and gestures towards her over the past month; however, she told Martinez not to come to the restaurant,
After officers reviewed video footage of the assault and interviewed witnesses, Martinez was placed under arrest. Because he had entered a restricted area where a cashier was present, he was charged with a count of burglary in addition to his assault charge.
Martinez was transported to the Broward County Main Jail. He later posted a $500 bond and was released.
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