Moment dine-and-dash customers attack 70 year-old restaurateur after refusing to pay for food because they didn’t like it and smashing plates on floor
A 70-year-old Texas restaurateur was left battered after a group of customers attacked him and walked away without paying their food bill.
Sergio Alberto Vasquez, owner of Cheko’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Austin, was called by his staff on April 28 after three people, believed to be two men and a woman, were causing trouble at the eatery.
Vasquez quickly arrived at the restaurant, confronted the group about their behavior and asked what happened.
The ailing owner later said the trio said they didn’t like the food and wouldn’t pay for it.
Sergio Alberto Vasquez was reportedly attacked by three people, believed to be two men and a woman, after confronting them on April 28 for not paying their food bill.
Vasquez later said, “At the same time, I took out my phone so I could take pictures of their license plates, and when one of the guys saw me going to take a picture, he got out of the car and started hitting me.”
Customers ran out of the eatery as soon as they saw Vasquez being attacked
Footage also shows the trio smashing plates on the floor of the restaurant after being confronted by the older man
To keep the peace, Vasquez said it was “no problem” but that they had to leave immediately.
But before they finally leave, footage shows the trio smashing plates on the ground.
Vasquez said KVUE in Spanish: ‘I wanted to make sure they left so they didn’t cause further damage to the restaurant.
βAt the same time, I took out my phone so I could take pictures of their license plates, and when one of the boys saw me going to take a picture, he got out of the car and started hitting me.β
The elderly man claims his phone was thrown away and he was beaten by the group outside until other customers saw the attack and ran to his aid.
Footage also shows the trio attacking one of the customers who came to help Vasquez.
The incident happened at Cheko’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Austin
The reasonably priced eatery has been serving Mexican food for more than a decade
The Austin Police Department (APD) is investigating the case and has not yet identified any suspects
βI appreciate them so much for coming to my defense because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking.
βI feel so bad about what happened – my clients who have been coming here for years – those who were here, I apologize to them. It’s not what I wanted,β Vasquez said.
His daughter, Maria Vasquez, later posted the images on Facebook in an attempt to find the trio.
βIt’s sad how people are so disrespectful and insulting. my father worked for years, he is broken!! Gave his life and soul to keep Chekos Mexican Restaurant & Bar running. I also ask the public if you have any information regarding this incident or can lead to who these people are, please contact the Austin Police Department.
‘We are very happy that it has not become worse. Please pray for my father! And if you ever see anything, please help and say something! If that customer hadn’t tried to help my father, who knows what would have happened.
‘I know my father is in pain and tired. But he says he’s strong and he’s working. But no one should be treated like this!’ she wrote on the after.
The Austin Police Department (APD) is investigating the case and has not yet identified any suspects.