McDonald’s worker hurt after patron throws hot tea at her, police chief says
Posted For: Hauviette
A Walnutport man is facing criminal charges after police say he threw hot tea at a McDonald’s drive-thru employee, an incident that was captured on surveillance video.
According to Walnutport police, the incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday at the McDonald’s located at 473 Main St. Police Chief Jason Nothstein said the 80-year-old customer was handed a cup of hot tea at the drive-thru window. Investigators allege the man then removed the lid, threw the hot liquid at the female employee, and tossed the empty cup onto the ground.
Authorities have not determined what prompted the man’s actions. The investigation is ongoing.
The employee was injured and received medical treatment at the scene, Nothstein said. Her condition was not immediately available as of Wednesday morning.
Nothstein told lehighvalleylive.com that the man is expected to be charged later Wednesday with simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct.
Police were able to identify the suspect after sharing photos and video of the incident on the department’s Facebook page. In an updated post, the chief thanked members of the public for their assistance, saying tips from the community helped officers positively identify the man.
McDonald’s has not released information on the serving temperature of its tea beverages. A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Tea Association of the USA recommends water temperatures between 180 and 190 degrees for brewing oolong and white teas, with higher temperatures typically used for black teas.
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