NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An ax-wielding man accused of throwing a fit at a Lower East Side McDonald's that was caught on tape last week was released without bail at his arraignment.
Michael Palacios, 31, who allegedly took out an ax and trashed a Delancey Street location around 2:30 a.m. Friday was arraigned on fourth-degree criminal-mischief and possession-of-weapons charges hours later and freed due to the state's bail laws.
The Bronx man slammed two tables and a plate-glass partition and told police he had "a pocket knife" on his bike, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the New York Post.
Uber Eats deliveryman Ruben G, who saw the event unfold, told the outlet that Palacios went into a rage after a woman at the restaurant "rejected" him after he tried to talk to her.
"So, basically he got into an argument with a girl, and then the girl rejected him," he said. "She didn't want to talk to him. He kept going at her."
The 31-year-old then took the ax out of his backpack and launched into a rant, smashing tables and a glass panel in the fast-food restaurant and even slapping a customer as others backed up in fear.
He then gets on his bike and speeds away from the incident.
Palacios was later arrested and charged.
"The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority," McDonald’s restaurant owner-operator Paul Hendel told NBC's "TODAY" in a statement. "We are shocked by these acts of violence committed in our restaurant, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation."
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