“They wanted extra sauce on the fries and when we explained it was $1.75, they got upset. And that’s where it all started,” chef Rafael Nuñez of Bel Fries on Manhattan’s Lower East Side told Univision. Mr. Nuñez captured video of part of the incident, which took place around 4 a.m. on July 4. Now, Pearl Ozoria, 27, Chitara Plasencia, 25, and Tatiyanna Johnson, 23, all face criminal charges. According to Univision, the three women destroyed computers, a cash register and other items inside the restaurant. At least one worker reportedly went to hospital for treatment of his injuries after the rampage. The restaurant’s co-owner, who asked not to be named, told NBC4 his six employees are so traumatized they don’t want to go back to work. “They are devastated. Scared. One of them still doesn’t want to leave her house. He has a son. She fears for her life,” the co-owner said. Employees watched as the three women trashed the restaurant, as seen in the now-viral video. One woman was seen hurling a can at employees, while the others climbed onto the counter and threw bottles of sauce. Two of the women were also seen doing turns on the counter as they laughed and applauded their destruction. Ms. Ozoria, Placencia and Ms. Johnson are scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday. The Bowery Buggie reported that Bel Fries caused controversy in the middle of its opening in July 2020 by throwing a big party while New York was still in the midst of a Covid-19 lockdown.
