Bacon Dispute At Marietta IHOP Lands Man In Jail

MARIETTA, GA -- Police are investigating charges that its officers used inappropriate force when arresting a man who allegedly made terroristic threats because he didn't receive bacon with his meal at a local IHOP. On Monday, police said several Instagram videos showing the altercation early Sunday morning don't tell the whole story.

Police were responding to calls that the man, now identified as Renardo Lewis, 39, of Marietta, was making threats and acting like he had a gun.

"When officers arrived, they attempted to meet with both parties inside the restaurant," police said in a Facebook post on Monday. "The suspect’s wife requested to explain that the real issue was not about threats, but that she needed IHOP employee names and their telephone numbers because she was upset they did not have bacon."

Lewis' wife said no threats were made, and then continued her attempt to get employees' names and numbers. Police said the couple became more agitated, and more officers were called in. That's when police tried to place Lewis in handcuffs, and a violent, 90-second melee ensued.

Police said Lewis grabbed one officer by her neck. Another officer then deployed his taser, and the officer then used "a series of short-strike punches to Mr. Lewis in order to get him to surrender his hands and be placed in handcuffs," police said. Lewis was eventually handcuffed, which is when police said the struggle stopped.

"The fact that a suspect or one of their family members states to police 'nothing happened' does not negate the need for officers to investigate an allegation of a crime," police said on Monday. "While the video may seem shocking to some, we are very proud that all officers used only the force necessary to place Mr. Lewis in handcuffs."