Fight over $10 ends in thousands in damage to Des Plaines McDonald's

Des Plaines police are looking for a Chicago-area man who authorities said threw a temper tantrum at a local McDonald's restaurant, doing thousands of dollars in property damage and possibly harming an employee.

The male customer was angry because he thought he had given a female cashier a $20 bill but received change for $10 at the McDonald's at 444 S. River Road, around 10:10 a.m. March 25, a police report said.

The man kicked two computer cash registers and one credit card reader off the counter, threw hot coffee that splashed the face of one female employee and hurled an egg sandwich that hit a second female employee in the head, according to the police report.

The property damage was estimated at $4,000, police said.

According to the report, the man was overheard telling his female companion to get the car ready because he was going to kick the registers and they would have to leave in a hurry. The two fled in a black SUV, heading north on River Road. Witnesses identified the woman and officers found her at her place of employment.

Police said they have identified the suspect, but have not been able to reach or locate him.

Des Plaines Police Cmdr. Nick Treantafeles said an arrest warrant has not been issued yet, correcting an earlier report that one had been issued. He said there are discrepancies between what police were told for the initial police report and what has been heard since.

"One is if there was coffee thrown and by whom. There's some question as to whether that even happened," he said. "We'd like to get the person and get his side of the story and then take it from there. If we can't find the guy, then we'll go out and get a warrant for him."

The suspect could face charges for criminal damage to property and battery, police said.