http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1993857,Aurora-pizza-man-punched-AU-11510.article
Pizza delivery man punched by customer
January 16, 2010
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By MATT HANLEY mhanley@scn1.com
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --><!-- BlogBurst ContentStart -->Jonathan Kroning has been stiffed by enough customers that it barely fazes him. The 20-year-old Pizza Hut driver doesn't like it, but that's part of the job.
"Customers complain all the time, and I'm used to stuff like that," said Kroning, of Oswego. "But never would I expect to get punched in the face."
According to Kroning, he delivered a Meat Lover's pizza to Shaver McNeil and his wife in Montgomery Monday night. Any tip is fine with Kroning. Three dollars is really good. Five dollars is "awesome."
But Kroning says McNeil and his wife offered nothing. So Kroning withheld the only thing he could: he didn't say "Have a good night." Instead, he took the $20.37 — exact change — and walked back to his car without a word, he says.
That's when Kroning says the woman leaned out the door and told Kroning he could have been more polite, plus the pizza wasn't up to par. Kroning reminded her cheerfulness is related to gratuity.
McNeil's wife said she didn't care about tipping him, and Kroning replied he didn't care about her, with both adding pungent adjectives, he says. Kroning went to his car, ready to move on.
That's when Shaver McNeil came up to Kroning's car, complaining that the pizza wasn't hot enough and demanding Kroning take it back.
According to Kroning, McNeil shoved the pizza through the car window. McNeil's wife says Kroning knocked the pizza over. Kane County prosecutors say McNeil took the dispute into his own hands.
"He sucker punches me in the face," Kroning said. "By that point, I can't see out of my left eye and blood's gushing down my face."
McNeil demanded his money back. Kroning handed it over and drove back to Pizza Hut, where management called police, Kroning said. Kroning ended up with an orbital fracture under his eye.
By that time, McNeil's wife had called the Montgomery Pizza Hut to demand Kroning be fired.
"I like Pizza Hut but I won't order from them while he works there," she said Friday.
McNeil's wife says Kroning was rude, slammed the door and told lies. She said McNeil is a good husband with a family and a job.
"My husband is in jail for no reason and that is not right," she said. "My husband did not rob anyone. Why would my husband rob a pizza guy who knows where he lives?"
Shaver McNeil, 23, of the 800 block of Victoria Drive in Montgomery, was charged with felony robbery and felony aggravated battery, according to the Kane County prosecutors. McNeil is still in the Kane County jail. His bail is set at $10,000.
Kroning took Tuesday off, but was back at work Wednesday.
And, yes, the kid with the black eye delivering pizzas in 35-degree weather has been stiffed again since returning to work.
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Pizza delivery man punched by customer
January 16, 2010
<!-- Article By Line -->
By MATT HANLEY mhanley@scn1.com
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --><!-- BlogBurst ContentStart -->Jonathan Kroning has been stiffed by enough customers that it barely fazes him. The 20-year-old Pizza Hut driver doesn't like it, but that's part of the job.
"Customers complain all the time, and I'm used to stuff like that," said Kroning, of Oswego. "But never would I expect to get punched in the face."
According to Kroning, he delivered a Meat Lover's pizza to Shaver McNeil and his wife in Montgomery Monday night. Any tip is fine with Kroning. Three dollars is really good. Five dollars is "awesome."
But Kroning says McNeil and his wife offered nothing. So Kroning withheld the only thing he could: he didn't say "Have a good night." Instead, he took the $20.37 — exact change — and walked back to his car without a word, he says.
That's when Kroning says the woman leaned out the door and told Kroning he could have been more polite, plus the pizza wasn't up to par. Kroning reminded her cheerfulness is related to gratuity.
McNeil's wife said she didn't care about tipping him, and Kroning replied he didn't care about her, with both adding pungent adjectives, he says. Kroning went to his car, ready to move on.
That's when Shaver McNeil came up to Kroning's car, complaining that the pizza wasn't hot enough and demanding Kroning take it back.
According to Kroning, McNeil shoved the pizza through the car window. McNeil's wife says Kroning knocked the pizza over. Kane County prosecutors say McNeil took the dispute into his own hands.
"He sucker punches me in the face," Kroning said. "By that point, I can't see out of my left eye and blood's gushing down my face."
McNeil demanded his money back. Kroning handed it over and drove back to Pizza Hut, where management called police, Kroning said. Kroning ended up with an orbital fracture under his eye.
By that time, McNeil's wife had called the Montgomery Pizza Hut to demand Kroning be fired.
"I like Pizza Hut but I won't order from them while he works there," she said Friday.
McNeil's wife says Kroning was rude, slammed the door and told lies. She said McNeil is a good husband with a family and a job.
"My husband is in jail for no reason and that is not right," she said. "My husband did not rob anyone. Why would my husband rob a pizza guy who knows where he lives?"
Shaver McNeil, 23, of the 800 block of Victoria Drive in Montgomery, was charged with felony robbery and felony aggravated battery, according to the Kane County prosecutors. McNeil is still in the Kane County jail. His bail is set at $10,000.
Kroning took Tuesday off, but was back at work Wednesday.
And, yes, the kid with the black eye delivering pizzas in 35-degree weather has been stiffed again since returning to work.
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