A Los Angeles man took his filmgoing experience a little too seriously.
Burbank police arrested Matthew Ware, 34, on Tuesday at AMC Burbank 16 after he allegedly pepper-sprayed a man who had his phone out during a screening.
Witnesses said Ware sprayed the victim about 40 minutes into a showing of “The Uprising” about 5:30 p.m.
The alleged attacker darted out of the theater as others in attendance gave chase.
A witness called police, and Ware was taken into custody in the lobby, according to KTLA. He was arrested and booked at the Burbank Jail for misdemeanor battery, the outlet reported.
Joe Rodriguez, who said he was sitting in the back of the theater at the time of the incident, told CBS News he was stunned by the incident.
“It was definitely the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen happen at the movies,” Rodriguez said.
He said Ware asked the victim if he would turn off his phone after he spotted him scrollingwith the brightness down. When the victim refused, a furious Ware sprayed the man, according to Rodriguez.
“This is insane. This grown man would resort to that,” Rodriguez told the outlet. “They gave him the benefit of the doubt; he did try to use his words initially, but that’s just unacceptable.”
The Burbank Fire Department also responded to the scene and two theatergoers experiencing irritation from the pepper spray were treated at a local hospital.
The theater offered to refund everyone’s ticket after the ordeal, according to CBS News.
Rodriguez joked that the spraying made the movie experience a lot more interesting.
“To be completely honest, the movie wasn’t my cup of tea,” Rodriguez said. “I was more thrilled by what happened than the movie itself.”
AMC Burbank 16 is one of the most popular theaters in the San Fernando Valley and is located in downtown Burbank. The theater “offers a premium moviegoing experience in the heart of the district’s entertainment hub,” according to the nonprofit Downtown Burbank Partnership.
