Viral video shows customer hitting restaurant employee with to-go box outside Punta Gorda restaurant

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. —

A viral video showing a physical altercation outside Leroy’s SoutherKitchen and Bar in Punta Gorda has left residents stunned, with police issuing a civil citation to one of the women involved.

The video, recorded on Sunday, shows a group of women appearing to yell at an employee in the alley behind the restaurant.

As the employee begins recording the confrontation, one of the women approaches her and strikes her in the head with a to-go box.

“I mean, it’s on surveillance camera. So you know, you can’t make something up when it’s actually being taped,” Cindy Carnahan of Punta Gorda said.

Jodi Sparty, visiting from Ohio, expressed disbelief at the incident.

“And in the restaurant, and don’t take it around back and hit her in the head. I mean, that was ridiculous,” Sparty said.

Tara Hoggard, a Punta Gorda resident, shared her disappointment over the violence.

“Yeah. Oh, wow. That’s just very sad. I mean, this part of town should not have violence like this. That’s just uncalled for,” Hoggard said.

Carnahan emphasized that such behavior is not reflective of the community.

“This is our little community. Everybody’s friendly. We’re all here for the same reason to live life, and she just put a bad mark yesterday,” Carnahan said.

The incident has sparked debate over the age-old adage, “Is the customer always right?”

“No, no, the customer’s not always right. Especially when there’s a violent act for no reason,” Hoggard said.

Punta Gorda police confirmed that the woman in the red dress received a civil citation. Attempts to reach her for comment have been unsuccessful.

The owners of Leroy’s Kitchen and Bar stated that their legal team has advised them not to comment at this time.

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