The Dalton Police Department is asking for help from the public with identifying a man who became irate at an area restaurant over the service he received and struck a manager in the face. After the disturbance, he drove out of the parking lot backwards, in an apparent attempt to keep witnesses or cameras from seeing his license plate.

The incident happened on Sept. 29 shortly after 1 a.m. at the Steak n’ Shake on West Walnut Avenue. The suspect, described by witnesses as a heavyset older white male with thinning brown hair wearing sweatpants and a gray T-shirt with sandals, walked up to the front counter asking to speak to a manager. The suspect then walked around to the entrance to the grill area speaking loudly about the lack of service he’d received.

When the manager asked him to step out of the employee-only area of the restaurant to make his complaint, the suspect hit her in the face with a stack of papers, believed to be restaurant coupons, before walking out. The suspect then left the parking lot driving backwards onto Tibbs Road in a gray four-door sedan, possibly an Oldsmobile.  

If anyone has any information on the identity of this suspect they’re asked to please contact Officer Sean Hudson at (706) 278-9085, ext. 312, or email him at shudson@cityofdalton-ga.gov.