Man eating at Salt Lake McDonald’s knocked out in random attack, police say

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police are investigating what detectives believe was a random attack at a fast food restaurant in the Ballpark neighborhood that left one person temporarily unconscious.

On Tuesday, Oscar Valdez, 28, walked into McDonald’s, 2064 S. 300 West, went up to a 26-year-old man, at random, and demanded money and the man’s phone, according to police.

“(Valdez) threatened to physically harm the victim if the victim did not comply with his commands. (Valdez) forcefully took the victim’s phone from the victim’s hands,” the affidavit states.

Restaurant employees confronted Valdez, who at that point threw the phone back at the victim and left, police say.

But not long after, Valdez returned to the restaurant “and sucker-punched the victim in the mouth while the victim was eating his food. The victim fell from his seat onto the ground and temporarily lost consciousness. The assault caused the victim’s tooth to nearly fall out and the victim’s tooth is now loose,” according to the affidavit. “Victim’s lip was severely swollen from his tooth penetrating his lip due to the assault.”

Valdez ran from the restaurant and went to a nearby store, where he purchased a pair of pants that he changed into in an effort to change his appearance, according to police. Officers located him near a supermarket and identified him, with help from the victim.

Valdez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of robbery and assault causing substantial injury.