PARIS, TX – A restaurant manager defended himself by striking an allegedly violent customer with a trash can after being punched multiple times at a Texas Whataburger, according to police reports and witness video.
Paris Police Department officers responded to the Whataburger location in the 2400 block of N. Main Street on February 22, following reports of an assault. The incident began when a customer became verbally abusive toward restaurant staff, prompting the manager to ask him to leave the premises.
The suspect initially complied with the request to leave but threatened to return and assault the manager once police departed the scene, officials said in a press release. He followed through on his threat, returning to the restaurant and punching the manager multiple times.
The manager fought back and was able to recover from the attack, subdue his assailant, and force him out of the store, according to police. Witness video captured the manager striking the customer with a trash can during the altercation as he attempted to control the situation.
Police identified the suspect as Anthony William Newhuis, 41, of Spring, Texas. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Newhuis bleeding from the head in the restaurant’s parking lot.
Newhuis was arrested and charged with assault resulting in bodily injury and public intoxication. His legal troubles continued after being taken to jail, where he intentionally flooded the cells, leading to an additional charge of criminal mischief less than $750.
Paris is located approximately two hours northeast of Dallas. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about workplace violence in the restaurant industry.
A Whataburger spokesperson addressed the incident in a statement, saying the company takes such matters seriously. “At Whataburger, Guest and employee security are a top priority. We take incidents such as this seriously and are fully cooperating with authorities,” the spokesperson told WFAA.
The case demonstrates how restaurant workers and managers sometimes face aggressive customers and must defend themselves when situations escalate to physical violence. The manager’s actions appear to have been in self-defense after being attacked by the customer who had previously been asked to leave the establishment.
