Woman, 21, Busted For McChicken Rage

JUNE 4--Unhappy with the way her McChicken sandwich was prepared, a Connecticut woman stormed a McDonald’s kitchen in an attempt to prepare her own meal, and in the process assaulted the restaurant’s pregnant manager, police charge.

According to investigators, Shannelle Hanson purchased the McChicken sandwich around 8:20 PM Friday at the drive-thru window of a McDonald’s about two miles from her home in Norwich.

The sandwich, however, apparently did not live up to the 21-year-old’s expectations.

Hanson, seen at right, entered the restaurant and declared that “her food was made wrong,” according to a customer who spoke with police. Hanson “requested a refund" and “then went behind the counter,” according to a Norwich Police Department arrest report.

The McDonald’s manager, who is 29 weeks pregnant, told cops that she was “slapped in the face and pushed by Hanson.” A male employee said that when he tried to separate Hanson and his manager, Hanson “slapped him in the face and pushed him.”

The restaurant manager said that after Hanson received a refund, she “stated she was going to make the food herself.” At that point, Hanson came behind the counter and confronted the manager near the French fry station. “She got into my face and slapped me,” the female victim said.

The manager said that prior to Hanson coming behind the counter, other McDonald’s workers told her that the manager was pregnant. In a written statement, the woman added that Hanson replied that, “she had bail money and didn’t care I was pregnant. She hoped I lost my child.”

After being taken into custody, Hanson told police she was upset that “there was nothing on” her McChicken sandwich (which normally comes with shredded lettuce and mayonnaise).

Hanson, who copped to throwing money in the manager’s face during the May 31 confrontation, said that she “stepped behind the counter...to make my own sandwich.” The pregnant manager, Hanson said, “stepped to me and we were face to face behind the counter.”  The manager, Hanson claimed, asked, “What are you going to do?” Hanson added, “I do not know who threw the first punch.”

Charged with breach of peace and assaulting a pregnant woman, both misdemeanors, Hanson was released from custody on a $5000 bond. She is scheduled for a June 13 hearing in Norwich Superior Court. (2 pages)