Police: Man assaulted in Staten Island restaurant over bathroom dispute

DONGAN HILLS, Staten Island (WABC) -- Police are searching for two men after a 60-year-old man was beaten in a Staten Island restaurant in a dispute over the bathroom.

The incident happened around 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, at Max's Es-Ca restaurant on 1559 Richmond Road in Dongan Hills.

Authorities say the victim was waiting for the restroom and jiggled the handle, and the suspect exited the bathroom and punched him. Another man then joined in the assault, and the victim was hospitalized with cuts and bruises.

The victim did not know his attackers.

"There was a big commotion," witness Sara Barchitta said. "There was a lot of cops and ambulance trucks blocking the street. It looked pretty scary because there was a lot of people outside and a lot of cops."

Employees say the restaurant has a DJ on Saturday nights, and the drinks were flowing. They said they quickly broke up the fight.

"Everybody's drinking, and one thing can lead to another," Barchitta said.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s or 40s.

Anyone with information in regards to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).