CLEVELAND, Ohio – An irate customer of a popular Little Italy restaurant pulled a gun on the restaurant owner’s because he had to pay taxes on a takeout order, police reports say.
The incident happened about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Mia Bella restaurant on Mayfield and Murray Hill roads.
The man, who police have not yet identified, walked into the restaurant to pick up an order worth about $100, according to police reports.
The man became irate over the taxes and yelled at employees and restaurant owner Emigert Memeti, police reports say. Memeti asked the man to step outside so they could talk.
The man pulled a handgun out of his waistband, pointed it at Memeti and screamed profanities, police reports say.
A Case Western Reserve University police officer in the area told Cleveland police that they spotted the two arguing and the customer walk to his car with a gun, police reports say.
They also said Memeti pulled out his gun. Memeti has a concealed carry permit, according to police reports.
The officers pulled their guns out and ordered the customer to drop his gun, according to police report. The man jumped into his car and sped south on Murray Hill, according to police reports.
The man ran away with the food, police reports say. CWRU police and Memeti said they recognize the man from the neighborhood and that he might be a construction worker working on one of several projects in the area.
Memeti said he didn’t want to comment when reached on Monday.
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