STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 27-year-old man from Midland Beach attacked four employees after going ballistic at a restaurant in New Dorp, then kicked a responding EMT, authorities allege.
Tyler Westcott of Lincoln Avenue was arrested for the wild melee at Applebee’s restaurant at 2636 Hylan Blvd. that occurred on Saturday, April 19 around 10 p.m., according to the criminal complaint.
Employees injured in the fracas included a 19-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman and two 24-year-old women, who all declined medical attention at the scene, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
The episode began when the defendant allegedly became irate while watching sports at the restaurant and threw his plate on the floor, according to a law-enforcement source.
Workers asked him to leave the restaurant and said his meal would be free if he complied, the source said. Instead, the defendant refused to exit and allegedly shoved a male employee.
Westcott allegedly continued assaulting and arguing with the workers as they were trying to escort him out of the building.
Westcott slapped the faces of the male employee and a female worker, then went back to his table, grabbed a cup and threw it in the direction of staff members, shattering the glassware, the complaint alleges.
In the vestibule as he left the building, the defendant punched a female employee in the face and a second female employee in the shoulder, according to the complaint.
Once outside in the parking lot, the defendant allegedly shoved a female worker in the chest, causing the victim to fall backward and strike the back of her head on the bumper of a vehicle parked at the location. Her elbow also hit the ground as she suffered physical injuries that included substantial pain in her head and an abrasion on her elbow, police said.
The male employee and three customers held Westcott on the ground for a couple of minutes until police arrived, according to the law-enforcement source.
Westcott then kicked the arm of a male EMT who was transporting the defendant to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton around 11 p.m., the complaint alleges.
The EMT suffered injuries that included a pinched nerve and substantial pain in his elbow.
The defendant was being taken off the ambulance on a stretcher but somehow was able to release his legs from the restraints in order to kick the EMT, the source said.
Westcott has been charged with assault, assault on a retail worker, attempted assault on a retail worker, criminal mischief, attempted assault, harassment and trespass.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been remanded to jail. He is due back in Criminal Court in St. George on May 12, according to public records.
An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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