Man arrested for allegedly 'stomping' teenage McDonald's employee in parking lot

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (WKRC) - A 25-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old McDonald's employee in the location's parking lot.

According to The New York Post, 25-year-old Johnny Ricks was arrested after authorities say he assaulted 15-year-old Ariyiah Lynch, who is employed at a McDonald's location in St. Louis.

Lynch told KMOV that the incident began when Ricks, along with several other unidentified individuals, pulled up to the drive-thru and began acting inappropriately.

“It was getting loud and doing the most and being obnoxious in the drive-thru, so we said, ‘If you want to get your order taken, step inside,” Lynch told the outlet.

Per the station, once Ricks and the other individuals entered the McDonald's, they allegedly began to throw objects, spit and take swings on at least four employees.

“‘That’s nasty, how would you like it if someone was to spit on you?' Then he lunged towards me and told me he was going to punch me,” McDonald's employee Jahmia Stokes told the station's reporters.

A press release issued by police and obtained by KMOV alleged that Ricks threw a tray and destroyed an electronic menu board after becoming upset.

Per The Post, a brawl broke out and spilled into the parking lot. Video posted on Facebook by Shawnunique Phillips, the teen's mother, shows Ricks dragging the 15-year-old girl across the ground and striking her head against the concrete, before lifting his foot to stomp on her.

According to KMOV, authorities responded to the altercation and told the station that Lynch was hospitalized with injuries to her nose and head.

“I was just trying to protect myself in the moment. I just want him in jail and charges to be pressed," Lynch told KMOV.

Lynch's family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for medical bills. Family members wrote that Lynch suffered "a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage," with the family adding that she suffered a "broken nose, a concussion, and many lacerations."

Ricks was charged with the following charges, according to The Post:

• Felony assault
• Property damage

Per the publication, Ricks is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond, with no option of paying 10%.

The owner of the McDonald's location, Jimmy Williams, issued a statement to KMOV.

“Ensuring the safety of both our employees and customers is paramount to me as a local business owner, and we have a strict workplace violence policy at my restaurants. My team is fully cooperating with the St. Louis County police in their investigation," the statement read, according to the station," the statement read.

Authorities are working to identify additional suspects, victims and witnesses tied to the incident.