Waffle House security guard zip-ties patron, 62, zaps him with stun gun and bear spray
The 62-year-old man’s suit claims he was permanently injured by the encounter with a security guard, but the restaurant says the customer was to blame. AFP via Getty Images
A Tennessee Waffle House customer says he was stunned with a Taser, sprayed with bear spray, and zip-tied after getting caught in an argument between employees, according to a new lawsuit.
Gregory Lynn Hall, 62, filed a $300,000 lawsuit over the May 4, 2024 incident at a Nashville location. The suit alleges Hall was sprayed and shocked before being restrained with plastic zip-tie handcuffs.
Hall’s complaint claims he suffered “severe and permanent injuries” requiring ongoing medical care, as well as mental trauma including anxiety and loss of sleep. Waffle House, however, argued that Hall was at fault, saying he “was being rude and abusive to employees” and refused repeated requests to leave the restaurant.
The company said Hall “continued aggressively arguing with the security guard” after being asked to leave, prompting what they called a “just use of non-lethal force” to remove him.
According to the lawsuit, the confrontation began shortly before midnight when Hall entered the restaurant to place an order. He claims a cook yelled profanities at him, directing him to a pickup window, and continued to curse at both him and a female employee, saying, “that’s my f–king wife, you don’t tell me how to talk to her.”
Hall ordered a hashbrown bowl and stepped aside to wait. Still “confused about the interaction,” he says he took a photo inside the restaurant “in case something happened between the couple.” A uniformed security guard then approached him and asked him to leave. When Hall refused, the complaint says the guard retrieved riot gear from his truck and sprayed Hall with bear spray.
Hall “tried to back away,” but the guard allegedly followed him into the parking lot, used a Taser, then restrained him with a knee to his back and zip ties. Hall was treated at Metro General Hospital.
S&S Management, which employs the security guard, said the worker “was acting outside the course and scope of his employment and in violation of its policies” during the incident.
Waffle House, which operates more than 2,000 locations across the U.S., has previously been in the spotlight for fights, brawls, and other unusual incidents at its restaurants.
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