TURNERSVILLE, NJ – In a remarkable incident in Gloucester County, New Jersey, the quick thinking of Chick-fil-A staff members helped to prevent a grave danger from escalating. While working the drive-thru of the Turnersville Chick-fil-A, the employees noticed signs of intoxication in a father who came to order food, accompanied by his young six-year-old daughter.
Sensing a potential threat, the restaurant staff detected the smell of alcohol in his breath and observed open containers of alcohol in his vehicle. The staff members made a critical decision to delay him from leaving by instructing him to park and wait for his order, said Police Chief Pat Gurcsik of the Washington Township Police.
Officers were notified and promptly arrived on the scene within five minutes. They carried out field sobriety tests on the man, which he failed. He subsequently registered a 0.16 on a breathalyzer test, exceeding the state’s legal limit by twice the amount.
Simultaneously, the officers took it upon themselves to comfort and distract the six-year-old girl to prevent her from watching her father’s arrest. They kept her engaged in conversation about her school and pets and provided her with food while they waited for her grandfather to arrive.
The man, who was alleged to be extremely cooperative during the incident, was arrested and later released. As Chief Gurcsik pointed out, the quick action by Chick-fil-A employees and law enforcement officers potentially averted a tragic accident.