Police say an order of garlic knots gave way to an incident Friday inside a Palm Coast, Florida, pizzeria that ended with four friends being booked on charges of burglary and criminal mischief.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Monday that Palm Coast Pizza eatery was ransacked Friday evening after a customer complained that her garlic knots were topped with cheese.
Jessica Conti, 25, became argumentative with Palm Coast Pizza’s cashier when she received the incorrect order and demanded her money back, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office report.
Although the employee agreed to reimburse her, Ms. Conti felt “disrespected by the way the money was put down on the counter” and the episode quickly escalated, authorities said.
Three of the woman’s friends soon stormed into the pizzeria and began ransacking the establishment, according to the report. A fax machine was knocked over, a cash register was toppled to the floor and a television was damaged when someone threw a glass parmesan cheese container at the screen.
Police didn’t arrive at the pizzeria until after the perpetrators left, but eyewitnesses were able to help police with identities and suspects were arrested soon afterward. The incident was captured by the pizza shop’s surveillance cameras, but police have not released footage.
Along with Ms. Conti, authorities arrested Shawn Cody, 32, Hareem Jones, 26, and Vincent Conti, 23, late Friday on charges of burglary and criminal mischief. A marijuana joint was discovered in Mr. Jones’ pocket as he was being put into a patrol car and he was subsequently charged with an one count of possession of cannabis under 20 grams, police said.
Damage to the restaurant was estimated at less than $1,000.
The four suspects were released from jail by Sunday afternoon after posting bond.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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