Police are hunting a woman who threw a burrito bowl directly into a fast food worker’s face during a violent confrontation at a Chipotle restaurant in California, after CCTV footage of the assault spread rapidly across social media.
The incident occurred on 12 May at the Chipotle branch in Santa Ana, California, and was captured on the restaurant’s security cameras. Footage shows a heated verbal exchange between the customer and a member of staff before the woman picks up a silver burrito bowl and launches it squarely into the worker’s face, covering her in food. The worker recoils from the impact before the customer flees the premises.
Santa Ana Police are now appealing for the public’s help in identifying the suspect, described as being between 18 and 25 years old and of Hispanic appearance. At the time of the incident she was wearing an all-black outfit with white polka dot trousers, with long brown hair tied in a ponytail. She is reportedly wanted on a misdemeanour assault and battery charge. While no official motive has been confirmed, reports suggest she was dissatisfied with her order.
The footage circulated widely online, drawing a range of reactions. Some commenters expressed sympathy for the worker. “No one has the right to treat another person in this way. It is not acceptable,” wrote one viewer. Others used the clip to air long-running grievances about the chain’s portion sizes and pricing. “They probably tried to charge her $20 for 6oz of food,” one commenter said. A third offered a more ambivalent take: “I’m way too old to be laughing but Chipotle sucks. Sorry that happened to her.”
The Santa Ana incident was not an isolated episode for the chain. Just four days later, on 16 May, a separate Chipotle restaurant in Washington DC was trashed in what was described online as a “teen takeover,” as groups of hooded and masked youngsters threw chairs, jumped on furniture and caused widespread destruction. Footage from that incident showed a father shielding his young children as the chaos unfolded around him.
Anyone with information about the Santa Ana suspect is asked to contact local police.
