Moviegoer using phone during film pepper-sprayed in LA, police say
theguardian.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A 34-year-old man, Matthew Ware, was arrested for allegedly pepper-spraying a moviegoer using a cellphone during a film at AMC Burbank 16 in California.
- The incident occurred 40 minutes into the movie, and two other nearby patrons also experienced irritation from the pepper spray; all three were treated at a local hospital.
- Ware was charged with misdemeanor battery and booked at the Burbank jail.
- Witnesses reported Ware sprayed the patron out of frustration rather than self-defense and fled the theater before being caught by other moviegoers.
- The confrontation reportedly stemmed from Ware being annoyed by the cellphone use, which he described as the other person "getting smart" with him.
