bc-waiter - a2034
(ATTN: National editors)
//Waiter Is Accused of Vandalizing Customers' House//
By Kristina Sauerwein
(c) 2003, Los Angeles Times<p>
The Sizzler restaurant in Norco, Calif., doesn't usually
deliver.<p> But police allege that one of its waiters followed four
customers home after an argument over dinner Friday and brought
an unexpected order: eggs smashed on the house, maple syrup
dribbled over the hedges and a sprinkling of powdered sugar,
flour and instant mashed potato flakes on the lawn.<p> The ``midnight special'' landed waiter Jonathan Voeltner,
and two alleged accomplices, briefly in custody on suspicion of
misdemeanor vandalism. The Keller family spent the weekend
cleaning up.<p> Darlene Keller was dining Friday at the restaurant with her
husband, their two children, ages 7 and 9, and her mother and
father. She said the trouble started when she asked for
broccoli and cauliflower to accompany her steak dinner.<p> ``We don't have any vegetables,'' the 20-year-old Voeltner
snapped, according to the Kellers. ``I can bring you a baked
potato or French fries.''<p> Darlene's husband, Wayne, insisted that the waiter bring his
wife vegetables. She is avoiding carbohydrates for dietary
reasons, he said, and the restaurant has a salad bar with
broccoli and cauliflower.<p> Voeltner left in a huff and returned with a skimpy salad,
said Wayne Keller, a Corona, Calif., salesman.<p> ``He practically threw the tiny plate (of salad) on the
table; it even bounced,'' Wayne Keller said Monday. ``Then he
told my wife to go get her own salad dressing.''<p> They called for the Sizzler manager, who apologized for the
waiter's behavior and personally cooked Darlene Keller a big
plate of broccoli and cauliflower. The Kellers thought the rest
of dinner went fine. Voeltner even stopped by during the meal
to see if the family needed anything else.<p> ``He didn't mention potatoes,'' Wayne Keller said. ``There
was no screaming or yelling.'' The family paid the $29.89 bill
and ``my in-laws left a tip. We had no clue anything was
wrong.''<p> Once home, the family was asleep by 11:15 p.m., Wayne Keller
said.<p> But the vegetable dispute was still simmering inside
Voeltner, Corona police said, and he asked his 17-year-old
girlfriend to follow the couple. Hours later, according to
police, the waiter and his girlfriend bought syrup, eggs,
flour, toilet paper and other items at a supermarket.<p> Then, police allege, Voeltner, his girlfriend and his
17-year-old brother went to the Kellers' one-story bungalow and
unrolled toilet paper onto a pine tree and smashed eggs on the
home's brown exterior. Eggs also were crushed on the Kellers'
mailbox, inside and out. It was covered in syrup and sealed
with duct tape, the family said.<p> Corona Police Officer John Samano said the trio rang the
Kellers' doorbell six times and hid in a car and behind a bush
to watch.<p> Wayne Keller said he looked through the window and spotted a
white SUV with its brake lights on. After noticing toilet paper
streamers and other ``weird'' stuff covering his property, he
said, he called police.<p> Within minutes, the police arrested Voeltner and the two
juveniles on suspicion of misdemeanor vandalism.<p> ``They probably weren't thinking,'' Samano said of the
trio's alleged decision to wait to see the Kellers' reaction
rather than flee.<p> Darlene Keller said she recognized Voeltner immediately and
told police: ``Oh, my God, it's the waiter from Sizzler.''<p> The Kellers also said they recognized a young woman with
long, blond hair, who had sat in a Sizzler booth near them.
``At one point, the waiter whispered something to her,'' Wayne
Keller said. ``It's creepy to think about.''<p> Voeltner and the others were released on their own
recognizance pending a court appearance. He could not be
reached for comment Monday, and a family member said neither he
nor Voeltner had any comment.<p> The staff at the Norco Sizzler feels terrible about what
happened, said Susan Hernandez, spokeswoman for the Sherman
Oaks, Calif.-based chain. ``This type of behavior is not
tolerated at Sizzler,'' she said. ``We pride ourselves on good
service.''<p> Voeltner was suspended without pay, Hernandez said, pending
a Sizzler investigation.<p> Wayne Keller said his family remained ``freaked out''
Monday. His children cry and are afraid to go to sleep. A
frontyard memorial to his late father … made of driftwood, a
U.S. flag and ceramic squirrels … was destroyed during the
vandalism.<p> His neighbors helped clean up over the weekend, but he said
the toilet paper streamers and egg stains remained. He
estimated the damage at more than $1,000.<p> ``I still don't understand,'' he said. ``All my wife wanted
was vegetables.''<p> Times staff writer Hilda Munoz contributed to this report.<p> AP-NY-06-09-03 2334EDT
Login
FAQ
Search
![[Valid RSS]](http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB3/styles/subsilver2/imageset/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")