A viral video of a woman splashing hot coffee on a McDonald's employee in October stood out as a top story in Nanaimo in 2020. (Wil J)

By Ian Holmes

2020 IN REVIEW

Top stories of 2020: Hot coffee hurled at fast-food worker ignites community anger

Dec 28, 2020 | 7:35 AM

NANAIMO — A widely viewed video capturing shocking behaviour of a woman at a Nanaimo drive-thru clearly stood out as a top local story in 2020.

The Oct. 13 incident caused minor burns to a man on the other side of the window who serving an irate woman at the Terminal Ave. McDonald’s location.

The worker didn’t require medical attention after being splashed on an arm. He was able to complete his shift.

Nanaimo RCMP announced in November it will forward a report to Crown Counsel for its consideration after tips flooded in from the public to cap off their investigation.

Charges have not yet been laid.

armed robbery

Knife-wielding man robs south Nanaimo liquor store

4h ago

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

11h ago

off the schedule

BC Ferries preemptively cancels early Saturday sailings

18h ago

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Mark Smith investigated the complaint filed by the worker.

He said the customer was upset her order was incorrect.

“The employee misheard an order, then he got it right and she demanded an apology,” Smith said.

Thankfully reports of people abusing retail and service industry workers in Nanaimo during the pandemic have been isolated incidents.

Reaction to the suspect’s actions were fierce. People found it hard to believe she could be so frustrated with a fast food worker that she’d assault him.

A high-quality video of woman’s actions was instrumental to the investigation. Numerous credible times were made to advance the RCMP’s probe into the case which clearly struck a cord in the community.

The story highlighted the value of high quality surveillance footage. There likely would not have been charges recommended to Crown Counsel if it weren’t for the dash cam video supplied by a Nanaimo man.

Otherwise, only a brief description of a white woman between 35 and 45-years-old with long dark hair likely would have gone nowhere.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes