At a Downers Grove Panera Bread last week a heated encounter turned into legal trouble for Alexandra Szustakiewicz (shes 64 years old) who now faces hate-crime charges
The incident started when Waseem Zahran wearing Palestine-themed attire was approached by Szustakiewicz at the restaurant; things quickly got out-of-hand. During the confrontation she tried to knock away a phone from Zahrans wife who was recording everything (and happened to be expecting a baby)
I tried to de-escalate multiple times‚ even after she hit my face and attempted to throw hot coffee at my wife
The court proceedings on nov 18th resulted in specific requirements: Szustakiewicz must avoid contact with victims and stay away from the restaurant where the incident happened. She got charged with two felony hate-crimes and one mis-demeanor for disorderly conduct
- No contact with victims allowed
- Must stay away from the restaurant
- Two felony hate-crime charges
- One mis-demeanor charge for disorderly conduct
Robert Berlin the DuPage County States attorney made it clear: this type of behavior and prejudice dont belong in society. The defendants next court date is set for mid-december; her public defender Kendall Pietrzak hasnt responded to comment requests