Ogden, UT — A 20-year-old fast food worker in Price has been charged with assault after allegedly punching a customer during a confrontation at a local Market Express on Saturday.
According to police reports, the incident unfolded at the drive-thru of the fast food restaurant located on Carbon Avenue. The customer, who has not been identified, told authorities that after being instructed by the drive-thru attendant to pull around the corner and wait for his order, he was handed his food in a manner that caused it to spill into his lap.
A verbal altercation reportedly ensued between the customer and the employee, identified as Alex Terry Ezell. The situation escalated when Ezell allegedly punched the customer through the car window.
Police said that surveillance footage from the restaurant supported the customer’s account of the incident, showing that the altercation occurred as described.
Ezell, however, provided a different version of events to investigators. He told officers that the customer had been disrespectful to other employees earlier in the interaction. According to Ezell, he acted as though he was going to dump the food on the customer as a response to the disrespect but did not intend to cause harm. Ezell claimed that the customer then called him an explicit name, which prompted him to punch the customer in retaliation.
Ezell is now facing assault charges as a result of the physical altercation. The incident has raised questions about the escalating tensions that sometimes occur in fast food and customer service environments, where workers are expected to handle frustrated or difficult customers with patience.
Local authorities have indicated that they will continue to investigate the matter. The charges against Ezell highlight the potential consequences of letting emotions boil over in a professional setting. The Market Express location declined to comment on the incident, citing an ongoing investigation.
While both the customer and the employee involved in the altercation have expressed differing perspectives on what led to the incident, the case underscores the challenges faced by service workers who deal with high-pressure situations on a daily basis. For now, Ezell remains free pending further legal proceedings.