Reports reaching us say that a white manager working at Poke Poke restaurant has been suspended for throwing a plastic chair at a black teen who patronized the restaurant about a week ago. The restaurant manager, Matthew Fezzey, is said to have raised his voice at 18-year old John Kyle Johnson. He threatened to hurt him and kick him out of the restaurant.
Not too long after the teenager was hit in the arm by a chair swung at him by Fezzey. The impact was so hard it caused Johnson injuries. This led to the involvement of the police by the teenager who began filming immediately. In an interview following the incident, Johnson said he was extremely shocked and scared at the manager’s behavior. He also said the look in Fezzey’s eyes were furious and terrifying.
Listening to a recorded conversation after the incident one could hear the restaurant manager acknowledge that he was wrong and he reacted based on his previous encounters with black folk. He went on to recount incidents of robbery perpetrated by black men in and around the restaurant in recent times saying he had to fight two of them off.
Fezzey claimed that the teenager had clenched his fists in a manner suggesting that he wanted to attack him but Johnson denied the allegations. The video of the incident was posted online and it has gathered over 20,000 views. A statement released by Poke Poke restaurant said they couldn’t condone any form of racism or discrimination by its staff.
Matthew Fezzey has been suspended pending the completion of the investigations by the Police.
