JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man seen on video getting punched at a Westside IHOP told News4Jax he is still recovering from his injuries.
"My jaw is broke. I have a black eye. I have scratches on my face," said the man, who asked not to be named. "Every time I talk, my bones are cracking."
ORIGINAL STORY: Fight at Westside IHOP caught on camera
Cellphone video showed the man appearing to act in a belligerent manner when confronted by an IHOP employee, who refused service to the man. The man was then heard shouting obscenities toward restaurant workers, which escalated into physical violence with other customers.
To shed light on whether anyone could be facing charges, News4Jax showed the fight video to Jacksonville attorney Randy Reep.
“There is an ongoing assault, which is putting people in fear of a battery, and there are a number of batteries that occurred," Reep said.
The man told News4Jax he has contacted an attorney. It's unclear if he plans to take legal action.
There was question over whether Jacksonville police were notified of the fight. Janet Alexander, IHOP's director or marketing and communications, released a statement reading in part:
"IHOP’s top priority is always the safety of guests and team members – first and foremost. Contrary to what has been reported, the restaurant team quickly took action by contacting local authorities as soon as the incident began and did their best to manage the situation without further endangering others until the police and first responders arrived. As the franchisee of this location, we are reviewing all security measures, as is our policy following any incident of this nature and will make changes should we feel they are required.”