MA Worker Chases Customer With Scissors In Dispute Over Coffee: Police

SOMERVILLE, MA — A Chelsea man working at a Somerville coffee shop faces two charges of assault with a deadly weapon after police said he chased a customer with scissors during a dispute over how the customer's coffee was prepared.

On Sunday, Nov. 12, a customer told police he didn't like how his coffee was prepared at Zaruma Gold Coffee on Woodbine Street, and asked the owner to remake the drink. That's when the customer said an employee identified by police as Vladislav Sinev stepped to the counter and ordered the customer to leave.

The customer "stood there shocked," and the owner repeatedly asked him to "get the f--- out," police said. Upset at what he heard, the customer placed the cup of coffee on the counter without the lid, and knocked it over, causing the coffee to spill onto Sinev's pants, police said.

An irate Sinev chased the customer around the coffee shop with a pair of scissors that he had in his hand, police said. The customer felt scared due to that fact that Sinev held the scissors above his head, they said. As the two made their way near the front door, police said Sinev then picked up a glass water dispenser and swung it at the customer's head. The customer put his hands up to protect himself, and police said a struggle ensued over the dispenser, causing water to spill on both of them.

Sinev dropped the glass dispenser, causing it to shatter, and the customer bolted out of the coffee shop, with Sinev giving chase with the scissors, police said. The customer called 911 and Sinev returned to the coffee shop.

Police arrived and found scissors on a counter near the front door. The scissors were tagged and taken into evidence.

Officers spoke with two witnesses, including someone who was with the customer, and said they saw him being chased with scissors and that Sinev tried to hit the customer with the glass water dispenser, then chased him with the scissors outside.

A second person said she cleaned up the water and broken glass, and that while cameras record, she said she cannot watch them.

Sinev was arrested and faces two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for the scissors and glass dispenser, police said.

Owner Maria Tacuri told Boston.com that Sinev founded the coffee shop and used to own it. He creates recipes there.

“The police report is missing many details. The coffee shop was crowded at that time, (and) there are multiple witnesses. I hope they can give their testimony to the authorities,” Tacuri told the news outlet.