Woman Caught on Video Throwing Hot Coffee at McDonald’s Manager

Police say the 48-year-old woman faces possible assault charges after incident.

McDonald's sign with iconic golden arches against a cloudy sky.
(Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

A woman who was caught on camera hurling a cup of hot coffee at a McDonald's manager during a heated argument has been identified, police confirmed this week.

The incident, which took place at the fast-food chain's Dixie Highway location in Buena Vista Township in Michigan, was captured in a viral video shared Tuesday by the Buena Vista Police Department, MLive reports. The footage shows the woman angrily confronting the store's manager, demanding a refund after claiming she had waited over an hour for an online order that included two sandwiches, and the exchange quickly escalated.

"I'm glad I'm calling corporate," the woman is heard saying, to which the manager replies, "You've got your coffee. That's all that you were charged for. Your refund will take up to 48 hours."

As the manager turns to walk away, the customer yells, "Fuck you. Catch that hot-ass coffee," before throwing the beverage at the manager's back.

Detective Russ Pahssen said the employee sustained minor burns from the attack. Within minutes of the video being posted to Facebook, police said community members flooded their inboxes with tips identifying the suspect.

"I must have gotten about 100 tips," Pahssen said Wednesday. "Within about two minutes, we had her identified."

The suspect, a 48-year-old woman, has not yet been located, but authorities have submitted paperwork to the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office seeking felonious assault charges. Police thanked the public for their quick response, updating their social media post to confirm that the suspect's identity is known. No further details have been released as of Friday.

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