Slap in the Mouth Over Popcorn Left in Microwave at Car Dealership: Cops

ORLAND PARK, IL — An employee dispute over popcorn left in a car dealership microwave prompted one man to slap another in the mouth, knocking him to the ground, police said.

Officers were sent to Joe Rizza Ford to look into a report of employees fighting, police said.

When they arrived, they reportedly found one of the combatants, 51-year-old Tony McNeal of Harvey, driving a blue Lincoln in the parking lot.

McNeal reportedly agreed to park the car and get out to speak with the officers.

McNeal “said he got into a verbal altercation with a co-worker ... over food left at the microwave,” police said. “Tony stated (the other man) charged up in his face at which time Tony used his right open hand and slapped (him) in the mouth. Tony stated (the other worker) did not touch him, but did walk up angrily into his face.”

The other worker, a 29-year-old, reportedly told police “he and Tony were arguing by the microwave.”

“Tony then swung at him and struck him in the face,” the worker reportedly told police. The man “stated he and Tony have a history of not getting along.”

An officer noticed the other man’s “left cheek to be slightly larger than his right cheek,” police said, but despite this, the man turned down a trip to the hospital.

A third worker reportedly told police he saw McNeal “throw a bag of popcorn from the microwave.”

This worker also “observed Tony strike (the other man) in the face causing (him) to fall to the ground,” police said.

McNeal was taken into custody and charged with battery. He was released on bond.

Tony McNeal | image via Orland Park Police Department