Customer turns violent at Marshfield restaurant after refusing to wear mask, leave when asked to

MARSHFIELD, Mass. — Surveillance cameras captured the moment a customer at The Ming Dynasty restaurant turned violent late Tuesday night.

In the video, a woman could be seen shoving an employee and knocking plastic partitions off the front desk.

“She refused to leave, she refused to wear a mask,” said restaurant owner Lei Yan. “She came here and sat down and was drunk, not behaving, very loud. It bothered other customers, so I got a complaint from another table. I went to their table to tell them, ‘You guys need to leave.’”

It was at this point, Yan said the woman became agitated. A man she was with also started flashing an I.D.

“The gentleman pulled out a special I.D. to show everybody that he’s like a very important person,” said Yan. “He asked us to serve them alcohol, so I told them no, then the lady got mad. She went to the front desk, smashed my front desk window, and the gentleman didn’t stop her.”

It was later determined that the man holding the I.D. was a Quincy Police officer.

Quincy police confirmed they are investigating the matter and will take any appropriate action.

Yan filed a police report with Marshfield police Tuesday night.

“The Ming Dynasty has been doing a really good job with social distancing and ensuring that people wear masks. Last night it was my understanding that they also wanted to make sure that nobody was served that may have been under the influence,” said Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares. “It appears that they were trying to do the right things.”

Tavares said he has been in touch with Quincy police, who are investigating the matter that involved one of their own.

“The officer didn’t exhibit any criminal behavior that I was aware of, maybe some inappropriate behavior,” said Tavares. “I have spoken to the Quincy police chief, and I am assured that he’ll take whatever appropriate action that he deems necessary, if any at all.”

Yan said she and her husband appreciate law enforcement and are big supporters of “Back the Blue”. She told Boston 25 she does not believe the officer’s behavior was typical of most police officers.

“Both the male and the female were trespassed from the Ming Dynasty, so they’re not allowed back in that establishment,” said Tavares. “If they do go there, they are subject to arrest.”

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