Bethel Park man charged with ethnic intimidation at SHV mall restaurant
Bethel Park man charged with ethnic intimidation at SHV mall restaurant
{child_byline}Mike Jones{/child_byline}
A Bethel Park man accused last month of using ethnic slurs against a customer at the Red Robin restaurant in South Hills Village Mall before allegedly punching him in the head waived his charges to court during his Dec. 1 preliminary hearing.
Jeffrey A. Burgess, 54, of 5 Dorchester Drive, was charged Nov. 22 with ethnic intimidation, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness after Bethel Park police said he attacked Ankur Mehta, who was sitting next to him at the restaurant bar.
Police allege Burgess used several ethnic slurs and told Mehta, whom investigators said is of Indian descent, that “things are different now.”
“I don’t want you sitting next to me, you people,” Burgess said according to court documents.
Police did not elaborate on what Burgess meant by things being different.
Police said Mehta was sitting at the bar using an electronic table and had earbuds in, so he was unaware of the comments Burgess was making. However, upon leaving, Burgess allegedly struck Mehta in the face with his elbow and then grabbed him by the head, punching him.
“Witnesses to the assault stated that Mehta was defenseless and completely unaware of Burgesses’ impending attack,” police wrote in court documents.
Mehta, who suffered a loose tooth and cut to his upper lip, was taken to St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon for treatment, police said.
Burgess, whom police said was intoxicated, was arrested moments after the attack in the mall food court, which adjoins the restaurant.
He waived all charges to court before he was scheduled to appear before District Judge Ronald Arnoni in Bethel Park. Burgess is free on $5,000 bond and scheduled to appear at his formal arraignment on the charges Jan. 25 at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, according to court documents.
His public defender, Melissa Ann Brandt, could not be reached for comment.