Man arrested, accused of spitting on Port Charlotte McDonald's manager

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —

A man was arrested on Monday after being accused of spitting on a manager of a Port Charlotte McDonald's.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a McDonald's located on Tamiami Trail at around 8:21 a.m. due to reports of an assault.

CCSO said the caller was a manager at the McDonald's who said a man had spit on her.

Deputies interviewed the victim, who said she was working as a manager behind the counter when a man, later identified as Matthew Burrell, 35, started causing a disturbance due to the fact that his order had not been taken.

A verbal fight then took place between Burrell and the victim, during which Burrell raised his fist and walked towards the victim. Another employee got in between Burrell and the victim, attempting to separate them and de-escalate the situation, CCSO said.

Burrell then walked around the co-worker and spat on the victim's face. The victim said the spit got into her mouth, and she was worried about contracting any potential diseases, CCSO said.

Deputies located Burrell walking at the intersection of Caring Way and Brinson Avenue. Burrell denied spitting on the victim, but did say he was defending himself from people pushing up on him, confirming that he was at the McDonald's, CCSO said.

While Burrell was being placed in the back of the patrol car, he told deputies, "I am ready to kill one of y'all man, for [expletive] doing this to me," CCSO said.

Burrell was arrested and faces charges of battery and threatening a law enforcement officer with death.

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