WASHINGTON — Security video from the Crab Plug shows a woman throwing bricks into the windows in front of the restaurant, followed by a man smashing the glass front door with a metal object.
The violent attack happened on Friday night around 8:50 p.m. at the family-owned restaurant on Georgia Avenue Northwest.
Driscoll Warner is a server and bartender at the Crab Plug and witnessed the entire situation. He said a customer ordered wings, didn’t get them, but she wasn’t charged for them. That’s when the situation escalated, as seen in the security video.
He said he tried to deescalate it all by reassuring the customer that she had not been charged and even showed her the bill. But she wasn’t satisfied.
“If all of this is over some $8 wings, I said I’ll give you the money out of my pocket, this whole situation can be done,” he explained.
In fact, before the attack, Warner says the owner tried to help too.
“The owner sent her $10 before all of this even happened,” he said.
But that $10 peace offering turned into more than $8,000 worth of damage to the restaurant’s facade.
“We’re not a corporation,” Warner explained. “We’re a small business.”
Money aside, Warner – and the owners – said they’re relieved that no one was physically hurt.
“You could’ve hurt a child. You could’ve hurt somebody’s grandmother, somebody’s mother, somebody’s son,” said Warner. “That’s why I said it’s sad. All of this damage to other people over $8.”
Crab Plug opened in July, with the intention of being part of the Georgia Avenue Northwest community.
“We’re all like a small family. We all take care of each other,” Warner explained. “Our regulars are like family. We’re a part of Georgia Avenue.”
So, he’s having a hard time understanding why anyone would do this.
“If I look confused, it’s because I am,” he said.
But Warner is comforted by the community they’ve created – including their customers.
“It was some customers who stayed yesterday and just wanted to drink and make sure we were okay, help put chairs up. You don’t get that at Outback,” Warner explained.
But he does want the woman and man to be held responsible for their actions and face consequences.
“Had somebody come and did this to somebody’s home, they would be in jail. This is our home,” Warner said. “Like, there’s no way you can do this to people and just walk away.”
If you have any information or recognize the people in the video, you are asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department.
Via WUSA9