Bagel Mix-Up Angers Elmhurst Woman: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst woman who ordered bagels from a restaurant and later found out the item was unavailable became upset and demanded an immediate refund, police said.

Kellie G. Elwing, 51, who lives in the 400 block of North Highland Avenue, is accused of striking an employee. She was ticketed on a charge of battery and given a no-trespass order, police said.

The incident happened about 11 a.m. Sept. 24 at Panera Bread, 108 W. North Ave., police said.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained the full police report.

Through the restaurant's mobile system, Elwing ordered bagels and pastries. Panera called Elwing to inform her the bagels weren't available. Elwing's daughter, who took the call, said they would take the pastries and accept a refund for the bagels, police said.

Elwing's daughter arrived and picked up the pastries and was told that her mother would get a refund to the card. The daughter accepted the explanation and left.

A few minutes later, Elwing entered the restaurant and demanded a refund. Employees told her the amount would be credited back in three days. This upset Elwing, who used profanities, according to the report.

Employees asked her to stop using obscene language because other customers and children were present.

Elwing then pushed a bagged order on a counter, causing it to fall down, police said.

An employee came around the counter, asking Elwing to leave, police said. She told police she was standing about 10 feet away from Elwing.

Elwing approached the employee and slapped her on the right side of the face, according to the report.

The employee said neither she nor her co-workers touched Elwing, police said.

When an officer called Elwing, he asked whether she could come to the police station to speak with him about the incident. She responded, "Not if I'm going to be arrested," according to the report.

Elwing then proceeded to speak about what happened. She said her daughter was informed by employees that someone must have taken their order off the shelf.

Elwing said she went inside and asked for a manager because she wanted a refund or a gift card.

According to the report, Elwing said the staff became rude, laughed at her and declined to give her a phone number to corporate so that she could file a complaint.

Elwing told the officer she became so upset, one of the employees placed a food order in front of her on the counter, police said. Elwing said she pushed back the food toward the employee, causing it to fall over the counter, police said.

Elwing said one of the managers came from behind the counter and raised her hand toward Elwing, police said. Elwing said she thought the manager would grab or strike her, so Elwing reacted and slapped the manager in the face, police said.

Elwing said she didn't mean to slap the manager, saying she was only trying to swat her hand away, according to the report.

Elwing came into the police department at 4 p.m. and was issued the ticket.