Family beat 17-year-old restaurant host over wait for table, cops say. Four indicted

A family, upset over how long they had to wait for a table at a Tennessee restaurant, beat a 17-year-old host until he was unconscious, police said.

Now, four family members have been indicted on charges of aggravated assault, acting in concert, records show.

On July 23, 2023, a family came into the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen east of Memphis wanting a large table, McClatchy News previously reported.

The family became angry when it was taking too long to be seated, the teen told the Memphis Police Department in an arrest affidavit. One man in the party exchanged words with him, then punched him in the face, police said.

He hit the host in the face and head area, as another family member jumped in from behind and began to assault him as well, according to police.

Two more joined in, and the four family members, ages 23 to 50, beat the teen, police said.

At one point, the teen reported he was knocked down and his head hit a brick wall, giving him a concussion. He estimated he was unconscious for 20 to 30 minutes and was taken to a hospital in non-critical condition, where he was treated for injuries including a black eye, bruised lungs, and bruises and abrasions on his face, police said.

He identified the four family members after being “shown a six-person photo lineup” once he was released from the hospital, according to the affidavit. The family members were arrested July 27-28 and all posted bond. They were indicted March 12.

McClatchy News attempted to contact the family’s attorneys but was unsuccessful.

“It took me 10 applications to find a job,” the teen said in a July interview with WMC. “And then for somebody to come in the restaurant and jump me for no reason? It was wrong what they did.”

His mother, Latisha Ford, wants justice for what happened to her son.

“Everyday I get up I think about how these grown cowards jumped on my son for doing his job at work,” she posted on Facebook July 30. “Anybody that knows my boys (knows) how respectful they are. They smile more than they talk.”

Assault while acting in concert is considered a more serious offense than an assault while acting alone, according to Tennessee law.

In a statement to McClatchy News at the time of the incident, the restaurant said it was “shocked and saddened by this senseless act of violence against our team member.”

This story was originally published March 15, 2024 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Family beat 17-year-old restaurant host over wait for table, cops say. Four indicted."