Crime
The restaurant owner said pointing the gun was an act of self-defense.
A Springfield restaurant owner is facing criminal charges after allegedly pointing a gun at teens accused of walking out without paying.
Nadim E. Kashouh, 61, pleaded not guilty to one count of fire-armed robbery, two counts of assault and battery, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in Springfield District Court on Monday, court records show.
Around 8 p.m. Friday, Springfield police responded to a report that a man brandished a firearm in a parking garage in the area of Dwight Street and Harrison Avenue, Springfield police wrote in a statement of facts filed in court.
A group of witnesses and the teenagers told officers Kashouh had brandished a gun and was in possession of one of the teens’ phones, police said. Officers placed Kashouh in handcuffs and secured his gun, an officer wrote.
The teens, ages 18 and 17, told police they left Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill after their card declined twice when they tried to pay their $92 bill, police said.
When Kashouh learned the teens did not pay, he and another employee ran after them. When he caught up to them, he grabbed a phone from one of their hands and said he would not return it until they paid their bill, the statement of facts said.
Surveillance footage reviewed by police showed Kashouh lifting his shirt to show a firearm sticking out of his pants, police said. The footage also showed Kashouh using his elbow to strike one teen in the face, “causing visible bruising,” and punching the other in the face, causing a small laceration, police wrote in the statement of facts.
When Kashouh began walking back to his restaurant, the teens told people nearby that he had one of their phones. When a large group surrounded Kashouh, he pointed his firearm at the group, police said.
After his arrest, Kashouh told police he pulled out his gun in self defense when someone in the group claimed to have a gun, an officer wrote.
The teens will be issued criminal complaints for defrauding a restaurant, police said.
“Mr. Kashouh was grateful for the opportunity to appear in court today and respond to the allegations against him. He maintains his innocence and says he acted in self-defense,” Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill posted on Facebook Monday. “Having just celebrated over 25 years serving the Springfield community, Mr. Kashouh is incredibly grateful for the many clients, guests, friends, and community members who have reached out and continued to support him and Nadim’s.”
Kashouh is scheduled to reappear in court for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 22, court records show.
Kashouh’s attorney, Mary Saldarelli, and Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.
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