A man has been arrested following a bizarre incident in a Burbank cinema where he allegedly pepper-sprayed a fellow moviegoer who was using a mobile phone during a screening. The altercation took place at the AMC Burbank 16 on Tuesday, September 15, and has raised eyebrows among those present.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/AMC-091926-df3cb658fbaa42ea8d3dc96f9479b3b8.jpg)
The alleged assailant, identified as 34-year-old Matthew Ware from Los Angeles, is reported to have confronted another cinema-goer after asking him to turn off his phone. When the request was turned down, Ware reportedly resorted to pepper-spraying the individual, leading to chaos in the auditorium. Emergency services were called to intervene shortly after the event.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident unfolded about 40 minutes into the film “The Uprising,” starring Andrew Garfield and Thomasin McKenzie. One witness, who has been named as Joe Rodriguez, described the situation as “the most bizarre thing” he has ever encountered in a cinema. He recounted hearing the sound of a spray can from a few rows behind him, followed by a loud commotion from the affected individual.
Rodriguez noted that the man who was pepper-sprayed was merely using his phone with a low brightness setting. This seemingly minor disruption prompted Ware to approach him and request he turn off the device. However, after receiving a refusal, Ware’s response escalated dramatically with the use of pepper spray.
The atmosphere in the theatre shifted quickly as screams filled the air. Witnesses reported that after the altercation, two other moviegoers were also affected by the spray and later required treatment at a nearby hospital. The situation prompted other patrons to react swiftly, with some chasing after Ware to seek assistance from theatre staff.
Burbank police, who arrived at the scene around 5:30 p.m., subsequently located Ware in the theatre lobby. He was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, a charge that underscores the serious nature of his actions.
The incident has naturally drawn criticism from various quarters, including from Rodriguez, who remarked on the absurdity of such a reaction from an adult. “They gave him the benefit of the doubt; he did try to use his words initially, but that’s just unacceptable,” he stated, highlighting the shocking nature of Ware’s response to what many would consider minor annoyance.
Following the incident, the cinema offered refunds to all attendees, aiming to alleviate some of the tension that had erupted during the screening. Rodriguez light-heartedly mentioned that the altercation had been more gripping than the film itself, quipping that the evening had taken a turn he could not have anticipated.
As the news spread, discussions around public behaviour in shared spaces like cinemas have reignited, particularly in relation to how individuals respond to perceived disturbances. The unusual case serves as a stark reminder of how interpersonal conflicts can escalate unexpectedly, resulting in troubling consequences.
As the investigation proceeds, local authorities urge members of the public to engage in respectful dialogue when addressing disruptions, rather than resorting to violence.