Crime & Safety

Customer Throws Banana Split At Hazel Marie's Employee Head: Police

Police were called in to the popular ice cream parlor on Lockport Street after an incident on Memorial Day.

Plainfield police were called around 8:40 p.m. May 25 to Hazel Marie's on Lockport Street after receiving a report that a man threw a banana split at an employee, hitting her in the face, officials said.
Plainfield police were called around 8:40 p.m. May 25 to Hazel Marie's on Lockport Street after receiving a report that a man threw a banana split at an employee, hitting her in the face, officials said. (Google Maps)

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield police paid a visit to Hazel Marie's in downtown Plainfield on Memorial Day after a man threw a banana split at an employee's head, officials said.

Officers were called around 8:40 p.m. to the popular ice cream parlor on Lockport Street. The ice cream dessert hit the employee in the face, Sgt. Luke Ostreko told Patch.

"[That's] not going to be tolerated here, not something that we're going to allow," store owner Tammy Barvian said in a video shared on Facebook. "We think you're going to agree with us: We have amazing employees, far superior to most, and they really feel like kids to us. We're not going to take it lightly when they're disrespected or bullied."

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Barvian also apologized for the high wait times on the evening of Memorial Day.

"We had really high wait times," Barvian said. "Our customer service definitely fell short, and we apologize for that, and we want you to know we strive to have our experience here at the shop a really good one, a really positive, upbeat and fun one."

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Police were called in after the incident, but while they were en route, dispatch advised them that the man had driven away from the area. Witnesses could not provide any definitive identifying information about the car, Ostreko said.

Officers reviewed the business's surveillance footage but could not identify the man who threw the dessert, so they advised the employee to contact the police again if the man returned.

Barvian assured patrons that the team was doing well after the incident. The ice cream parlor reopened at its normal time Tuesday.

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