Local

Man arrested in St. Augustine after fight over cold Steak 'n Shake fries

Tavares Jones

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A man was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge early Thursday morning after a Steak 'n Shake employee was left with bruises after a fight over cold fries.

The incident happened at the Steak 'n Shake location at U.S. 1 and State Road 312.

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According to a St. Johns County Sheriff's Office report, Tavares Jones, 25, told deputies he called them "because that (expletive) gave me some cold fries, and when I told her I wanted some more fries and ketchup, she called me a (n-word) and slammed the sliding door in my face. So I got out of my car, pulled the door open and threw that (expletive) she threw at me back at her."

Jones told deputies he did not make any physical contact with the employee, according to the report.

Deputies observed that the employee had a bruise on her arm. She told deputies, "When the customer became outraged over the fries, he reached through the drive-thru window and pulled me close and punched me on my left arm."

Another employee who witnessed the incident said he saw Jones throw his drink through the drive-thru window and "began screaming in inappropriate comments and started throwing punches" at the employee. "Then he told her to come outside and fight."

Jones was booked into the St. Johns County Jail on a $1,500 bond and as of Thursday afternoon, he was still listed as being in jail.

According to the SJSO Inmate Search, Jones has previously been arrested in St. Johns County for battery, larceny and disorderly intoxication.