Attacks on Workers Continue, Now Over Burgers and Roast Beef Sandwiches

Memphis, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Customers are still taking their frustrations out on workers for the littlest things.

In Memphis, a woman has been arrested after jumping through a drive-thru window to attack a customer over her order

Officials said Kaitlin Brantley drove through the drive-thru lane of a Memphis McDonald’s to complain about her order. When the manager said the store would remake her order, but when things didn’t go her way, she chose violence instead.

Police said that despite the manager trying to give Brantley a new order, she got angry and started cursing the manager. Because of her behaviour, the manager refused to give her the remade order. In response, Brantley allegedly opened and climbed through the drive-thru window and started fighting with the manager. Police said the manager defended herself by hitting Brantley with a coffee pot at least 9 times.

Brantley went back out the drive-thru window, but not before throwing items at the manager as she left.

Police said Brantley was one of four people who attacked employees at a Cheddar’s restaurant in Memphis in 2023. In that incident, Brantley was one of four people charged with attacking a Cheddar’s worker. In that incident, Brantley and three others were having dinner at Cheddars on July 23, 2023, and got upset over not being seated quickly enough.

Witnesses told police two of the suspects turned their attention on Omarion Ford, an employee of Cheddar’s. Ford, who was 17 at the time, said Darius Brantley and Kaitlin Brantley then started to punch him in the face and head. According to the police report, Ford was knocked to the ground and hit his head on a brick wall, knocking him unconscious. Ford suffered a concussion, as well as injuries to his face, lungs, and eyes.

Kaitlin Brantley, Darius Brantley, along with two other family members, Carol Brantley, and Brittany Brantley were each indicted for aggravated assault – acting in concert.

Latisha Ford, Omarion Ford’s mother, said she feels that Kaitlin Brantley’s action should put her in jail.

“I hope that pot knocks some sense into her,” Latisha Ford said. “She is out here attacking people. Probation for what? I want justice for what she did to people in McDonald’s, and I want justice for my son.”

 Brantley is out on bond awaiting trial. Officials said her actions could result in her bond revoked.

Also in Memphis, an Arby’s employee was fired after facing a racist attack from a customer.

Kendra Irvin said she was attacked by a customer in a Jan. 20 incident. The customer had ordered a roast beef sandwich and later complained that he wasn’t satisfied with his meal.

“I was trying to explain to him like, ‘Sir, we can remake the sandwich if you want.’ He started cursing, and he threw something at me,” Irvin said.

When she threw something back at him, the customer jumped over the counter to confront her and called her racial slurs. Irvin, who is 5-foot 1, said she was afraid he would hurt her.

“He went and pushed me down. Not by my chest but by my face. He pushed me down by my face. I fell to the ground. As you can see, I had the knife and fry basket in my hand because I was defending myself,” Irvin said.

She said the customer threw other items at other employees before leaving the store.

“This is the first incident ever. I’ve never had a problem with a customer. Never,” Irvin said.

Irvin said that within a week of the incident, she was fired from the store.

“They said I violated a policy. I guess I wasn't supposed to protect myself. What would you have done if someone did that to you?” Irvin said.

Police said no arrests have been made in the incident.

In Kalamazoo, Mich., a worker at a McDonald’s was stabbed, police said.

Around 11 a.m. on Feb. 7, the worker was on his shift when he was stabbed by a suspect who fled the scene immediately after the attack. Police were able to locate the suspect within about 20 minutes and arrest him without incident. Police said the attacker and the worker knew each other and that the attack did not appear to be random violence.

The victim was given medical care at the scene, officials said.

And in Portland, Ore., a bookstore employee and a police officer were attacked with an umbrella and a soft drink can.

Officials said the employee was working at Powell’s Books on Feb. 5 when they were assaulted on the sidewalk. The suspect fled immediately after the attack. Police searched the neighborhood and found the suspect. When officers attempted to talk to her, she hit one officer with an umbrella.  

"The suspect then threw a full can of soda at the officer, striking him in the head and causing a laceration," police said.

The suspect later exited the building, and officers gave chase on foot. She was apprehended and taken into custody. The police officer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. 

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