Employees beat man with metal chair, broomstick at Taco Bell, Lincoln Police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Two Lincoln teens were arrested Saturday night after beating a man who refused to leave a Taco Bell, police say.

Christopher Schmidt, who police say is a 53-year-old homeless man, refused to leave the Taco Bell near Northwest 15th and West O Streets around 9 p.m.

Employees Lucas Smith, 18, and Caleb Baumgartner, 19, then started a fight with Schmidt, according to Lincoln Police.

Christopher Schmidt, courtesy Lincoln Police

Witnesses told officers that Schmidt was hit with an aluminum broomstick and a metal chair during the fight, police say.

Schmidt was then locked out of the restaurant.  He started hitting the door with a metal rod, which caused about $400 in damage.

Police were called after he shattered the restaurant’s door.

Smith was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault. Baumgartner was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to a class II felony.

Police say Schmidt was arrested on suspicion of injuring or destroying the property of another.