A restaurant owner in Utah was caught on cam spraying a man in the face with a fire extinguisher because he refused to stop smoking outside his restaurant.
Jon Bird, the man who was seen smoking the video shared above, showed the encounter between him and Alex Jamison, the restaurant owner.
In the video, Jamison, who owns 2 restaurants near Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, said Bird is in a customer area and shouldn’t be smoking there.
In the video, you could see Jamison arguing with Bird and another man.
A woman recording the men arguing with each other asked Jamison if he was really going to spray him with that fire extinguisher.
Jamison then told Bird to put his cigarette out, but Bird placed it in his mouth and started to smoke.
Jamison then pointed the fire extinguisher at the man’s face and Bird said: “Do It!”
Jamison then sprayed a short burst in his face and backed away.
Bird then told the man to call the police and inform them about what just happened.
Jamison replied with, “Call the cops. You can’t f**king smoke right here.”
Bird shared the entire video on his private Facebook profile and said, “Keep an eye out for this guy at the Gallivan Center. Need to get his info. Assaulted me and ran from the scene before the cops showed up. Anyone know any attorneys that can help? Never thought this would happen.”
During an interview with WSBT, Bird, the victim, said he was volunteering for an arts festival when Jamison did the act.
Bird added a security guard told him it was ok to light up a cig in the area.
The law in Utah states smoking within 25 feet of a business entrance is prohibited and could be punishable by law.
The Salt Lake Police arrived at the Gallivan Center after they received a call about the incident.
When the police arrived at the scene, Jamison already left his restaurant.
The police confirmed that they are investigating the video and they denied to comment about the video and the incident.
Jamison apologized to Bird in an official statement.
Jamison said, “I’m not proud of my behavior. I let myself get egged on and I overreacted. I’m a protective small business owner who has asked hundreds of people not to smoke near our patio in the interest of our customers and our neighbors’ customers. I try to be respectful and generally always get good responses.”
Jamison added, “I asked him multiple times during the day to please go to the designated smoking area but should not have reacted to feeling disrespected. I certainly owe the other person involved an apology and would like to make it right with him however I need to. I did not mean to cause him any harm. Our business is committed to fighting for animal rights and this must include other people. I’m sorry.”
Bird claims he is having side effects from inhaling the substances that were released by the fire extinguisher.