A man who got mad because he did not have enough money to pay for his food at McDonald’s in Waukegan allegedly repeatedly punched an employee in the face over the course of three minutes.
The Waukegan Police Department responded on October 4 to the McDonald’s on the corner of Grand Avenue and Sheridan Road for a report of a battery.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said officers arrived and learned Jimmy E. Pierce, 23, of Waukegan, had previously been involved in an incident earlier at the restaurant where he was charged with disorderly conduct.
Pierce came back to the McDonald’s and tried to order something but did not have enough money to pay for it.
He became agitated and created a disturbance in the restaurant, Theis said.
A female employee told Pierce he needed to leave but he refused.
Another employee came to her defense and Pierce got aggressive, jumped over the counter and stood aggressively with both of his fists clenched in front of one of the employees, Theis said.
Theis said the employee continued to tell Pierce to leave but he refused and struck the victim in the face with his fist.
Pierce tried picking up a broom to strike the victim but missed, Theis said.
Surveillance video showed Pierce striking the victim in the head with his fist multiple times over the course of three minutes.
An arrest warrant was issued for Pierce charging him with misdemeanor battery and on November 23 the Zion Police Department responded to a domestic incident at Casey’s, 39131 North Sheridan Road in Zion.
Officers learned Pierce dragged a woman and took their child, Theis said. They also learned Pierce had an active warrant for the McDonald’s attack.
Officers located Pierce at Sheridan Road and Mawman Avenue in Beach Park. He resisted arrest while being handcuffed, Theis said.
Pierce kicked an officer and struck the officer’s ankle, Theis said, adding that he also thrashed his arms and caused an officer to suffer lacerations.
He was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer.
Both cases are non-detainable under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act but Pierce was on pre-trial release in a prior case so the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office was able to file a petition to detain him pending trial due to him violating the conditions of his release.
“He threatened an employee of a restaurant and when a co-worker came to her defense, he struck that person in the head multiple times,” Theis said during a detention hearing, adding that it is “clear he is a danger of anyone who happens to be on the wrong side of his temper.”
Pierce currently has four active criminal cases in Lake County.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition to revoke Pierce’s pre-trial release and remanded him to the Lake County Jail.
The judge noted Pierce scores high on a public safety assessment for being a failure to appear in court risk and committing new criminal activity.