Police: Man Who Threw Hot Coffee On Donut Shop Employee Identified
By Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A hot cup of coffee becomes a weapon in a dispute over whether a man paid for his sandwich at a Philadelphia donut shop.
Police say it happened May 8th at about 11 a.m. inside the Fresh Donuts store in the 3900 block of Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia.
The entire incident was caught on tape.
At one point, the suspect, who is identified as 52-year-old David Timbers of the 3700 block of Haverford Avenue, is heard yelling, "Miss, I paid you for my sandwich. I don't need $2.25 or whatever you're charging me, $2.40."
Police say Timbers insisted he paid. The clerk maintained he did not and that dispute over $2.40 ended with the man grabbing a cup of hot coffee from the employee's hand and throwing it on her.
The victim suffered second degree burns on her arm. Her face would have taken the hit if she hadn't shielded her face.
Nancy Om, the donut shop owner said, "It's so bad. When I saw her, we cried together."
The victim's cousin, Nancy, says she and her husband Donald own the shop. Nancy says her cousin was visiting from York, Pa. for a couple of weeks. The victim was at the store as extra help when it happened. Donald was also there and confronted Timbers.
Timbers is heard on tape responding, "I don't give a (expletive). I paid her! She told me I didn't, so she can take that and keep the sandwich."
Donald Eap, shop owner said, "He never listened to me. He just screamed at me."
A second man with Timbers is also heard on tape saying, "Got a camera right there. Run that camera!"
According to police sources, the cameras inside the store indeed show Timbers never paid and left in his gold or tan Cadillac.
We talked to an eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous. "The owner tried to block the car that the guy was in. The owner had one injured arm so that guy said, 'You got one arm, what the hell are you going to do to me?' It was crazy. It was senseless. He didn't have to throw that coffee on her."
Lt. Ray Evers with the Philadelphia Police Department added, "This is a disagreement over $2.40 and you're going to injure someone for the rest of their lives. If you can't resolve conflicts in a proper way, you really should not be on the streets."
Timbers was accompanied by a second male, seen on the left wearing a green hat in the surveillance video.
He is described as a black male, 40 years of age, 6'2", 200 lbs, with a mustache. He was wearing a tan suit, tan shoes and a gold watch.
Anyone with information is asked to call (215) 686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.
