Local Police in Palma recently responded to a retaliatory assault at a restaurant, arresting a 28-year-old Spanish man. The incident was a severe escalation of a dispute from the previous day when the man refused to pay for his meal and was confronted by the owner.
‘Dine and Dash’ Dispute Escalates to Knife-Wielding Revenge
According to the police report, the incident began when the man refused to pay his bill at the restaurant a day earlier and was told to leave. Harboring a grudge, he returned the next day around 6:00 PM, armed with a 10-centimeter folding knife and intending to retaliate.
To avoid disturbing other customers, the female owner first tried to speak with the man outside. However, instead of calming down, he became abusive, insulting and shoving her, which quickly escalated the situation.
Confrontation Erupts Outside, Owner Defends Himself
Seeing his wife being pushed, the male owner immediately intervened, pushing the suspect away to protect his family. As the owner turned to go back inside, the suspect suddenly pulled out the folding knife from behind and began to chase him aggressively.
Faced with the sudden knife threat, the owner thought quickly and grabbed a cloth bag to use as a makeshift shield, fending off the armed suspect and successfully avoiding direct injury.
Police Respond Swiftly, Suspect Caught in a Restroom
The sound of approaching police sirens distracted the suspect during the confrontation. The owner seized the opportunity, decisively moving in to restrain the suspect’s hands, causing the weapon to fall. He immediately pinned the knife to the ground with his foot to prevent the attacker from retrieving it.
The suspect, realizing the situation was against him, gave up and fled the scene. In a panic, he hid in the restroom of another nearby shop, attempting to wash his face to calm down and hide his actions. Police arrived swiftly after being called and, following tips from witnesses and staff at the neighboring shop, found and arrested the suspect, who was crying in the restroom. The weapon used in the assault was also recovered by the police from the street.
The man has now been handed over to the National Police and relevant judicial authorities to face multiple charges, including assault and threats with a weapon, and awaits further legal proceedings.
