A Connecticut father is accused of launching a racist tirade and tossing a drink at a worker in a smoothie shop on Saturday after his son reportedly suffered an allergic reaction, police said.
James Iannazzo, 48, was arrested and charged with a hate crime following the wild scene at Robeks in Fairfield shortly before 2:30 p.m., according to the Fairfield Police Department.
The chaos began when Iannazzo returned home with a smoothie from the business that purportedly contained peanuts – causing the allergic reaction that sent his son to the hospital, authorities said
The irate father returned to Robeks and screamed at workers, demanding to know who made the smoothie containing the allergen, police said.
After an expletive-ridden outburst, Iannazzo allegedly tossed a beverage at an employee and commented on the immigration status of another worker, cops said.
He also allegedly tried to burst into an employees-only area, police said,
The father fled the store before police arrived. He was later arrested and admitted to officers he went back to the store after becoming upset about his son’s severe allergic reaction, according to police.
Workers told investigators that Iannazzo asked for no peanut butter in the smoothie, but did not note the request was because of an allergy.
Iannazzo was charged with intimidation based on bigotry or bias, breach of peace and criminal trespass.