A Starbucks worker, who happens to be the daughter of Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt, was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by an irate customer who took issue with his bagel not having any cream cheese on it.
According to CBS 4, the incident occurred last Wednesday after the accused, Omar Wright, returned to the drive-through of the coffeehouse chain after purchasing a bagel. A police report states that Wright walked over to the window where Noel-Pratt’s 23-year-old daughter was posted to complain of cream cheese not being put on his bagel. During the encounter, Wright was reportedly asked to calm his nerves but that did not help as he began hurling expletives.
“As a mother, I am very concerned. I have always known that I was prone to something like this but when it totally reaches your household you are in total shock,” Noel-Pratt told the news outlet. “It really was upsetting to me knowing that someone would go to that extreme not having cream cheese on his bagel.”
The report states that though the gun was not pointed at Noel-Pratt’s daughter, the victim still feared for her life and felt Wright would attack her if she did not ensure he got the cream cheese he wanted. Wright left the scene in a car after he received his cream cheese. He was, however, later apprehended after the police took a look at surveillance footage. A Starbucks employee also provided them with details of the license tag of the car he drove away in.
“He basically said you don’t know who you are dealing with. He was brandishing a weapon while looking right at her and saying those words. So she felt fear, fear for her life. He came up to the drive-through window with a gun in his hand,” Noel-Pratt said.
“One thing is that he was unstable and unreasonable,” the chief added. “He has no balance of what should occur and was upset about something and took it to a new level.”
Wright has since been charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm, CBS 4 reported. At his bond hearing, however, Wright objected to the armed robbery charge. His attorney also concurred, arguing that the armed robbery charge did not add up particularly when Wright bought the bagel.
And though the judge presiding the case found probable cause for the aggravated assault with a firearm charge, she did not find that for the armed robbery Wright was being accused of. His bond was set at $10,000 for the aggravated assault with a firearm charge while the judge reportedly stated he could be freed on his own recognizance for the second charge. Wright has also been barred from getting anywhere near Noel-Pratt’s daughter and also ordered to always be 500 feet away from Starbucks.
Meanwhile, Noel-Pratt said her daughter is receiving counseling after the “traumatic experience” and she is unsure if she would continue working at Starbucks. The chief also reiterated there are always better alternatives to resolving misunderstandings instead of resorting to violence.
“We are seeing that across the country a lot of people are not able to deal with their problems and they are taking it to another level where they’re going to be getting a firearm and taking it into their own hands,” Noel-Pratt said.
“It’s important that if you see something say something. Don’t take matters into your own hands. If you are angry about something there are other measures you can take. Go get counseling. Go for a walk but do not pick up a firearm. It is not right.”
