Exclusive: Chaos Revealed Inside Popular Restaurant During Fight
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CORAL SPRINGS (CBSMiami) -- Coral Springs Police crime scene photos from inside the Big Bear Brewing Company depict the aftermath of a brawl last December involving several customers accused of threatening employees and leaving one injured.
CBS4 News obtained the photos from the Broward State Attorney's Office.
The scene was chaotic and bloody but the employee who was struck repeatedly with a glass beer mug in defense of one of his co-workers said that he is fully healed and all is back to normal and then some.
The photos show chaos in the kitchen, a toppled Christmas tree and a glass used as a weapon. Police said they arrested three customers -- Claude Galland, Roosevelt Laguerre and Eurasha Fonseca -- after they are accused of fighting with employees about a nearly $300 bill, threw a two cent tip in a waitresses' face and then started brawling.
Michael Pierce is a server at the restaurant. He said he stood up for a fellow employee who was in danger and then got hit repeatedly with this glass in the kitchen area.
"I've never seen anything like that happen," he said.
The 911 call from that night is chilling.
CALLER: "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God. Please, please come. Please come now!"
911 DISPATCHER: "Ok, you're in Big Bear. The police are on their way. How many people are involved?"
CALLER: "There's a bunch. There's like 10 people. Oh my God! Please come!"
Pierce said he knew he was seriously injured.
"I actually thought I was gonna die," he told CBS4's Carey Codd. "I made my decision and by the grace of God, I survived."
Pierce needed 13 staples to close his wound but he was back to work the very next day.
"They gave me a cat scan as far as I know I'm good," he said.
Pierce said the outpouring of support from the close-knit Coral Springs community touched his heart.
"They gave me cards, they came in and show their concern for me," Pierce said. "I really appreciate that."
Police say the physical damage to the restaurant was about $2-thousand dollars as the angry customers threw chairs, glass mugs and even Christmas ornaments. Pierce said since the fight, business has remained strong and the loyal customers and employees know that Big Bear is a popular family restaurant.
"I'm not gonna be moved," he said. "I'm gonna come here. We're still gonna be here. All the people that were there that night still work here. We're not going anywhere."
The people arrested in this case face a number of different felony charges. Court records show they each have court dates coming up in September.
