A young woman attacked at her job at a St. Petersburg McDonald’s is talking about the customer who lit into her over a straw.
The accused attacker, Daniel Taylor, a homeless man, hasn’t raised the $100 he needs to bail out of the Pinellas County jail.
Police tell us he even claimed he was the one attacked, but the video tells a different story.
Demanding a straw at a St. Petersburg McDonald’s on New Year’s Eve, police said it’s Taylor shown in security video, grabbing employee Yasmine James by the collar.
“He grabbed me and I was scared because I didn’t know if he had a gun or a knife or what,” said James.
A soft-spoken James said she is not an aggressive person.
“He literally grabbed me. I didn’t have no control over my body when he grabbed me. I had to pull, I had to pull back,” she said.
Using boxing skills she learned growing up with boys, James let fist fly, one after the other.
James and her attorneys are critical of the manager and corporate reaction, saying training to de-escalate incidents like this are lacking.
“It’s just that fear of, if I go back what is going to happen to me?” said Michele Rayner-Goolsby.
At the McDonald’s, James called police herself.
“I’m scared. I’m scared to go back,” she said.
James’ attorneys said she has significant injuries.
Taylor is charged with simple battery, a misdemeanor.
James is hoping this incident prompts McDonald’s to take notice and make changes.
“This is the last straw for violence against all workers and all women,” she declared.
St. Petersburg police tell us Taylor kicked another female employee in the stomach as he left the restaurant.
McDonald’s issued a statement, saying safety and well-being of employees and customers is its highest priority.
