Marin Starbucks Barrista Hit, Choked by Angry Customer, Police Say

A man was arrested at a Mill Valley Starbucks for allegedly putting an employee in a choke hold and trying to take his cell phone, police reported this weekend.

According to Mill Valley Police Sgt. Paul Wrapp, the employee at the Starbucks at 45 Camino Alto asked the suspect, a man known in Starbucks locations throughout Marin County, to leave at about 5 p.m. Friday because of his behavior

The man refused to leave, and the employee started taking pictures with his cellphone to document the man’s Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was parked on front lawn of the coffee shop, Wrapp said.

The man was apparently angered by this, and demanded that the employee stop.

“The employee refused to relinquish his personal cell phone, and the suspect attacked the employee, striking him in the face with his fist, and placing the victim in a choke hold in an attempt to get the victim’s phone,” Wrapp said.

Police arrived as the man was leaving and quickly detained him.

“After interviewing witnesses at the scene and the victim, it was determined the suspect had committed an attempted robbery and assault with a deadly weapon (choke hold on victims neck),” Wrapp said in a press statement.

The Starbucks employee’s injuries were minor, he said.