A Missouri waitress was allegedly dragged off a pier and into a lake after chasing a group of misbehaving customers who were trying to flee a restaurant.
Lianna Bartels was working the late-night shift at Fish & Co. restaurant on Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Missouri, on Friday when a group of seven people arrived from the pier for some food and drinks. WAFB reported.
Bertels said the incident began when he refused to serve a drink to a woman in his group who did not have proper identification.
After some sulking over ID issues, the group eventually ordered food, but the waitress said it took longer than usual because the kitchen was busy that night.
The angry group couldn’t stand the wait and asked to leave, so Bertels offered to pack their meals into takeaway boxes before they left.
The seven were seen on security camera footage returning to their boat at the pier before paying the bill, which was about $150.
A few minutes later, Bertels is seen rushing down the pier in pursuit of the brazen group.
She claimed that when she tried to tell them about the bill as the boat was moving away, one of the members grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the lake.
“When I fell in the water they started laughing and cheering. It really hurt,” Bertels told the outlet.
“I was in the water crying and screaming and I didn’t know what to do.”
The media outlet reported that the young waitress was pulled onto the moored boat’s swimming platform about 10 minutes after the alleged assault.
The Camden County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident and is still seeking information about the cruel customer.
The sheriff’s office said the incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor assault.
The suspect is believed to be from out of state.
Police on Tuesday released a photo of a man believed to be part of the group who has come forward and is cooperating with law enforcement.
Sheriff’s Office share They said they “do not believe he is a suspect in this case.”
Shawn Dolben, general manager of Fish & Company, said the company has made some changes to how it will respond if a similar situation occurs in the future to keep employees safe.
“We now have a system in place that if we are going after someone, we let someone know and we take someone with us,” Dolben told the outlet.
“Either way. That way someone can see what’s going on. Sometimes the cameras don’t capture everything.”
