Lake City worker accused of throwing Krystal hamburger patties at his boss released from jail

An angry worker accused of tearing up a Lake City Krystal hamburger restaurant has been released from jail.

Lake City police arrested 29-year old Russell Gomez on Tuesday.

Police said Gomez threw frozen hamburger patties at his boss, and when she tried to get away, he followed her, knocking over equipment and pouring cooking oil on the floor.

“He’s a little baby, (a) little girl. I mean, he’s not a grown man,” said Krystal customer Sean Smith, who put Gomez in a chokehold.

Smith did not have nice things to say about the Krystal employee who ruined his lunch break.

“It made us all a little aggravated, to be honest with you,” said Smith.

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Lake City police said Gomez threw a temper tantrum when his boss told him she was going to write him up for getting to work late.

“When I went up to go get my drink, he went up to the breaker and turned the power off inside the store,” said Smith.

Smith said Gomez nearly hit him with his car on the way out.

“He spit in my face and my brother’s face. And he threatened to whoop us,” said Smith.

Smith said he put Gomez in a chokehold.

“I was actually trying to save him from one of our other guys tearing him up pretty good. So I was trying to do him a favor, but he didn’t like it,” said Smith.

Police said that when officers arrived, Gomez tried to run away, but tripped over a curb.

It was his 12th arrest in Columbia County in the last 10 years.

Gomez was booked on multiple charges of aggravated battery, assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

When police arrested Gomez, they discovered that he was a habitual traffic offender. He was charged with driving on a suspended license and his tag was seized.

Gomez has not responded to Action News Jax’s call seeking comment.

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