Video: McDonald's Cashier Beats Customers With Metal Rod

Let's take a break from all the violent protest videos and catch our breathe with a McDonald's beatdown video. This entry in the fast food fight canon comes to us by way of DNAinfo, which reports that the altercation occurred at the McDonald's on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village, just after midnight on Thursday. Take it away, cell phone-holding customer who still doesn't grasp the merits of holding the phone horizontally:

The more you know about this video the more depressing it is. Our first reaction was: Oh, that tired overworked cashier is hitting those trespassers with a broomstick—guess they shouldn't have jumped behind the counter! But that's not a broomstick, it's a metal rod. And one of the women ended up with a fractured skull and broken arm.

DNAinfo reports that the violence started after one of the customers, Denise Darbeau, 24, of Queens, started cursing out the cashier, Rayon McIntosh, 31, because he said he needed to check her $50 bill to make sure it wasn't counterfeit. Darbeau is seen on video slapping McIntosh, and then she and her friend, Rachel Edwards, 24, jump the counter. McIntosh disappears from frame, but then reappears with the metal rod and brings it down again and again and again.

McIntosh faces felony assault charges, along with criminal possession of a weapon. Dabeau and Edwards were charged with menacing, trespass and disorderly conduct. And then there's this: McIntosh just finished serving over a decade in prison after shooting and killing a classmate at Bronx's Evander Childs High School in 2000, when he was only 19. He was paroled in March, and had been working at McDonald's since, commuting to his job from the Bronx... Is it the weekend yet?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on October 14, 2011 4:04 PM

Comments [rss]

Enrique Alvarado

Um am I reading this correctly he the police tried to
charge him with assault when he is clearly the one assaulted and threatened… Are
the police blind? I could see them trying to say he used excessive force and he
still might get a pass because he did not know what they were going to do and
in the video you do see one of them getting back up even after all that
Mcwhooping… Before he wacks her back down.

Enrique Alvarado

In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence In common law, criminal assault often accompanied battery. See common assault.
The elements of battery are (1) a volitional act[6] (2) done for the purpose of causing a harmful or offensive contact with another person or under circumstances that make such contact substantially certain to occur and (3) which causes such contact.[7] Thus throwing a rock at someone for the purpose of hitting him is a battery if the rock in fact strikes the person and is an assault if the rock misses. The fact that the person may have been unaware that the rock had been thrown at him is irrelevant under this definition of assault. So in this case I guess the woman who struck him in the face did commit battery but both her and her friend by defintion commited assault because of the fear portion by coming behind the counter.

The Assault is threatening manner in which they both came across the Counter and Battery would be when she struck his face with her hand or whatever she used...

And had he not been defending himself he most likely would be charged with Aggravated assault because of the use of a weapon they would argue as being deadly if they don't try to charge him with it anyway....

Nautilis

Wrong McWorker, Wrong McDay. Would you like an apple pie with that?

Rider

oh man! removed before I could see the McWailing

ButtPlugs

He killed someone though, Why didn't he stay in jail longer

John

They had it coming!

robingee

All hail inanimate carbon rod.

Peanut_Butter

A Royale with Cheese, biatches!

Keith Mipastiass

Well, you can take the monkey out of the jungle . . .

Sudhir Kumar

I live the way how the bitches got a ass whopping. All the employees should have taken their clothes off and threw the girls on the street.

bam_bam_slam

Now the father of the one who jumped the counter is on the news saying he doesn't understand how something like this could have happened. Well Sir, maybe...just maybe, it starts with YOU and how you raised her. Or maybe you were not around enough to provide a decent upbringing. Or maybe you were busy molesting or abusing her into insanity. Look in the mirror.

HymietownHero

Parents are not always to blame for producing shitty people. There's a big shitty world that also lends a helping hand.

bam_bam_slam

Maybe not always... but 99% of the time it usually starts at home and early in life. People that were abused (without some type of therapy) keep the cycle going. They're only 24, just entering the REAL world, that they don't seem to know.

silver

Why does the person who jumps the counter sound and look like a 14 year old male thug? The woman is the woman, but she walks around. The person who jumps the counter was not a woman.

Vladimir Vassev

Good job Rayon! Self-defense and they totally deserved it. Keep up with the good job man!!!

LarryJ

This is one of the best deatdowns of all times. I am sorry that this poor guy had to go to jail for protecting himself against two fools armed with a cutting weapon. This guy, an ex-con who did his time and recently released after 10 years in prison, was trying to do the right thing. He had a job and was working when those two drunken fools went over the counter after him, when he questioned their $ 50.00 bill. He was defending himself against deadly physical force and did what he had to do to save himself from harm. Best beatdown of all times....

Sarah Flandro

Wow... look how hard he's hitting them.. he could've tried to push them back with the rod, he didn't need to start beating them with it... he probably could've killed them if he hit them in the head with that, as hard as he was doing it... Hope he gets what he deserves.

cr17

He was assaulted by two people, who then lept over the counter with the intention of harming him, possibly causing serious and life-threatening injuries. It was either him or them, and why should he have to pay the price for these two scumbags? In that situation, you would do exactly the same and if you think you wouldn't you're deluding yourself. And who knows what was going on down on the floor - could have been reaching for a weapon.You know what he deserves? To be able to do his crappy minimum-wage job without being assaulted and possibly killed.

Get a grip Sarah.

bam_bam_slam

You sound sweet and naive, you're probably from out of town. Let me guess Pluto?

HymietownHero

Push them back with the rod? That's basically offering them the weapon. Grow a pair, Sarah. If someone was clearly intent on doing you imminent harm, would you not swiftly and decisively defend yourself?

"Stay back, I have a weapon! See? I am pushing it into your shoulder, but not so hard as to cause any serious injury! No, don't grab it! Stop trying to take it from me!"

Rahata Redcat

They were probably Burger King workers. That's why he laid the extra smack down on them.
"You think the Whopper is better than the Big Mac? Fuck you!!" *smacksmacksmack*

Nicholas

That's what happens when someone tries to act hard, but the other person is waaaay harder than you'll ever be.

robingee

So why go batcrap because the guy has to check the $50? Jesus, calm down bitch.

Peanut_Butter

Probably cause it was fake. Anyone that defensive has a guilty conscience.

robingee

Exactly, there is no other reason to get so insane.

Jeffrey

That blonde bitch needs to stfu and mind her own business. The worker had every right to defend himself. So easy in hindsight for people to say, "he should have stopped after.." I'd rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6.

Bryan

"That blonde bitch needs to stfu and mind her own business". This makes no sense. She may be yelling for him to stop, that doesn't mean she's judging him or thinks he's in the wrong. I'm guessing most people there wanted to prevent a death, blondie just happened to be the loudest one. I'm sure Rayon is glad people tried to stop him, otherwise he would have another manslaughter charge.

Peanut_Butter

Seriously, well said.

blitzblutz

Once you jump the counter, anything goes.
These two girls even chased the guy into the back until he came out with the rod. What he did was extreme but he was justified.

Kristine

I would have done that same thing.

nayerr

Can I get a Mcbeatdown? Supersized!!! The two female homo thugs deserved every ounce of that beating btw. Not for being female homo's, but for being thugs. I hope they don't sue McDonalds and get rich and I hope they learned their lesson... in PAIN!

robingee

what.

LICnative

Fast food restaurants and public transportation really seem to bring out the worst in ghetto folk.

Ja Pudge Hamlin

YOU CROSS THE LINE AND GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! C'MON CLEETUS!

Red Ryder

Haha, this rules. Thank you, Mr. McIntosh.

Red Ryder

What a fucking surprise! An hysterical white woman screaming for him to stop, because no one's ever told her to shut the fuck up and mind her fucking business.

Erik Lugli

Tim Simmons... She had a fractured skull. (regarding this episode) People never fail to amaze me with their stupidity. This made me lose just a little more faith in humanity. I blame the media as I'm sure some rapper is going to write this into one of his songs in the near future.

Polite New Yorker

As a former McDonald's employee, I do not support beating customers, but I UNDERSTAND it.

GeorgeF

I can't wait to see the ambulance chasing lawyer for the two beaten women on tv. I am sure he will let us know that these two women just wanted a burger after feeding the homeless and before attending midnight mass, but were nearly killed by an ex felon McD's carelessly hired. McD's has deep pockets, and some lawyer is just creaming his trousers this moment.

doba

If you attack someone, you shouldn't be too surprised if they attack you back. Just desserts, maybe a McFurry?

sharpshoota

This is total self defense. The two bull dykes deserved all they got. They assaulted him first and jumped the counter to assault him more. I'm glad there was video. They tried to act like they are tough and crazy....they forgot that there is always someone tougher and crazier than you. Now they know after a justified supersized ass whipping.

PS- the lone white lady screaming STOP IT!!! really added to the dramatic sequence of this clip. Really moving stuff.

Tim Timmons

an really EDITOR!!!!!... "metal rod" makes it sound much worse! Its a Da*m broom handle! Its hollow, and aluminum, or tin...not solid steal, yes it probally stung, but i really doubt anything got hurt... besides their Ghetto Ego's.

neustreber

This was clearly self-defense. This guy shouldn't do any time for this.

SheikYerbouti

Interesting that he knew right where to get such an effective improvised weapon. However, I think he delivered exactly what these two insane foolish women deserved. What does anyone think they had in mind going over and behind the counter to chase him down? Clearly these two women have double-teamed others in the past. They were probably going to deliver the same to him and had no fear even after being struck. Two hardened gang-type biatches who got what they deserved. I'd hire him for double what Mickie D's pays to work in such an environment. Soon they will need bars to keep employees safe since the company only aims the camera at the cash drawers.

HymietownHero

What? You mean one of the first things you do in a new environment isn't to determine what could be effectively used as a defensive weapon? Am I the only one?

Peanut_Butter

Nope. I check for exits, I check for objects I can use as weapons, I stay away from the front windows in case a crazy cab comes barreling through. Especially after the Wendy's massacre, I think about my strategy if someone were to come in guns drawn and order everybody into the back.

whatidsay

"You want a broken skull with that shake?"

airtech1

ouch.

mouse potato

Someone please start a defense fund for the McD employee.

Sulayman

I was almost beaten up by a homeless man in this very same McDonalds. Thank God two cops were eating there, they ran over and separated us.

Pierce Inverarity

Holy crap! Aspiring rappers are dropping like flies! Why the asians and white hipsters runnin out of frame on this vid?

And I love how JDS hates on the the videographer for going vertical. JDS, you would have peed your pants and ran from the joint faster than the hipster in the red vest, so don't throw stones, bro.

ronshapley

and who's that crazy ass blonde woman yellin at the kid ?? She needs to be whacked too

robingee

Was she the same woman who was screaming at the Carriage Horse that fell over??

Ephraim Miller

I dunno but she sounds just like my mom.

edgie168

i was hoping for that..

soothsayer

I thought that was tiger woods.

Ragingsemi

Well WTF do you expect? Have you seen the ghetto ass people Mcdonalds employs in NYC? I'm surprised he didn't have a gun.

antimisogynycrusader

Well, you can't say that his two customers weren't served......

jd

holy crap, those girls really f'd with the wrong bull. And hey, cameraman. what's up with the tarantino-esque pan away from the violence at :52 seconds in?

petey2

Animals.

Ronin

Mam, would you like a beating... oops, I meant fries, to go with your burger?

bam_bam_slam

This is New York City entertainment...who needs to stand in line at a box office and pay $15 for a movie. This is as good as it get in the big city. Nobody got killed, they just got taught a valuable lesson. Leave people the &@$# alone.

airtech1

Nobody got killed, *technically*, but c'mon, fractured skull...

bam_bam_slam

people like those two idiots...a fractured skull is the only language they understand. and I bet they still will be &@$#ing fucking with people til somebody does kill them.

HymietownHero

"&@$#ing fucking"

I lol'd.

bam_bam_slam

An Angus burger at McDonalds...$5 Fries and a coke with it... $3.
Getting your ass whipped like a dog in Mickey D's...Priceless

Qwerkie

Why weren't they charged with assault for slapping him?

Harper324

my guess is that the guy wasn't injured. assault requires injury. non-injurious touching typically is harassment.

Lawrence

You have no idea what you are talking about

brownstone420

Assault does not require injury, so stop pretending to be a lawyer yourself. Assault is legally defined as the imminent threat or fear of harm upon a person, or offensive contact. If you spit on someone you can easily go to jail for assault. And yes, I am a lawyer.

bobbyjfromtheuk12

Spitting is considered harassment- Not assault. I hope your a tax attorney since it appears you don't know jack about criminal law.

Uncontested

Spitting on someone in the State of Florida is Simple Battery, not assault, not harassment, thats what I'm going on.

Uncontested

If you spit on someone its a 'Simple Battery' charge actually. These women should be charged with BATTERY for hitting him, not assault.

Harper324

you must not be a very good one, or maybe you're thinking of tort and just didnt bother to actually read the NYPL.

LtWorf

i guess slapping is too sissylike to be charged as assault .menacing is the charge

bam_bam_slam

Welcome to McDonalds, would you like an ass whipping with those fries?

horsechoker

I'll keep this short and sweet: those bitches deserved it.

Hope he beats the charge.

RobertMosesSupposesErroneously

Moral we have learned, children: Don't give too much shit to strangers, because you never know who's a violent ex-con.

Red Ryder

What we've really learned is that bitches will get what they deserve if they attack us. No more will we let them think they're delicate flowers. Better start bulking up, ladies. If you want to act like men, we'll respond as if you are.

bam_bam_slam

Where can I donate to his bail and legal defense???

brooklynRick

One someone has to start self defending the themselves its though to say when they have to stop because they didn't create the situation. I hope the felon walks, the dude that jumped the counter had it coming.

Jax

That was one too many swings. On what planet does one think its ok to slap a McDonalds employee? The dude got way too worked up, but he was obviously out numbered and threatened

nicemarmot

That's self-defense. If somebody jumped the counter and attacked me like that I'd grab the nearest weapon to defend myself too.

uponfifth

What is going on in this world?

Michael

I don't see a problem with what this kid has done; and don't see how his past record is relevant in this situation. Two people assulted him and then criminally trespassed across the counter with the intent of doing him harm. How is this felony assault? If they didn't assaut him or meanance him, and stayed on the customer side of the counter then they would be fine today. Instead they tried to do him harm, and being outnumbered he relied on a weapon to even the odds. Is there as such thing as self defence anymore?

Harper324

obviously you are a lawyer.

getDange

Why can't people of Gothamist avoid insults? :)

Harper324

obviously you have an amazing sense of humor.

NYC for Fun

Yeah, you be detained alright either in a body bag or at the hospital emergency room once Denise and her friends get through with you. Good luck with that.

coolnathan

It's important to keep in mind that the Grandmas of all involved said they were good kids.

Sinchy

She's lucky she didn't get a face full of fryer oil. Next time she will think twice before assaulting someone, but he didn't need to hit her while she was down, unless she was reaching for a weapon.

Douche_McGee

nah, next time she'll probably have a gun.

they

true but have you ever been in that mcdonald's late at night? it gets crazy in there

soothsayer

too bad the guy fell back on using violence to solve problems. perhaps it was something he learned in prison, i don't blame him, the american system of justice doesn't normally include rehabilitation, but at least he was holding down a job and trying to do good (as condition of his parole).

Lawrence

You are a moron or someone that is completely incapable of defending yourself...maybe both.
You don't know that those women were unarmed, or that they wouldn't have found weapons of their own behind the counter. I've never been to prison and I wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing if they threatened me like that.
Not everybody in this world responds to reason, and when someone pursues you the way those women went after him you dont always have the luxury of talking it out.

Red Ryder

Yeah, he should have really sat them down and hugged it out with the two crazed bitches who hopped the counter to attac...I mean smother him in kisses. Get a fucking clue about life. Coulda, woulda, shoulda! Well, he didn't and assholes like you are going to screw him over, because after watching a video, you know better than him.

TheRealCannibal

Its not prison, its natural fight or flight instinct kicking in. There was no room to flee. He was trapped and did what he had to survive. They could have been coming around the counter to shoot or stab him and for all he knew he was fighting for his life at that moment.

The fact that he is putting in good work at a crappy but honest job and commuting all the way from the bronx shows he isnt trying to rush back to jail. He was defending himself.

Sulayman

Legally, there was nothing wrong with beating her with the rod in self defense. She was coming at him. However, once she was down on the ground for the count, the fact that he continued whaling away on her while everyone is screaming "Stop!" is the reason for the assault charge. It's no longer self-defense.

Tim Timmons

I dont recall seeing ALL of those people saying STOP trying to help the guy out getting slapped around??? DO YOU!...NO THESE WERE SOME STRAIGHT UP GHETTO BIT*HS THINKIN THEY ARE BAD, AND WANTING TO CAUSE A SCENE!!!! BUT THEY LITERALLY GOT BIT BUY THE HAND THAT FEEDS THEM!!! I for one am against violence especially against women- Im quite ol' school.... But do you not have the right to defend yourself or your space? Its not like these "women" were acting like women! They were acting like animals, an got handled like so.. GOOD LUCK MAN!

soothsayer

she was unarmed. that doesn't mean you go reach for a weapon to beat the shit out of them. and i saw the video, when the women went down on the ground, he continues swinging HARD despite attempts by coworkers to stop him.