Man attacks Applebee's employee with meat cleaver over COVID-19 vaccine proof

BELLEVUE, Wash. (KOMO) — Prosecutors in King County, Wash. say a man tried to attack a Bellevue restaurant worker with a meat cleaver after being asked to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Investigators say Michael Dousa, 58, lunged at an Applebee’s bartender with a meat cleaver after he was asked to leave the restaurant when he couldn’t provide proof of vaccination.

Detectives say Dousa went outside of the restaurant and was yelling and waving the cleaver around. When the bartender asked him to leave, police say Dousa went after him with the raised cleaver over his head.

Luckily the worker shut the door before he got hit.

I don’t think violence is ever the answer,” said Levi Hudson who was going to Applebee’s. “I don’t think you should be violent because I think that is one of the most ridiculous things you can do. You’re not helping people by being violent.

The Hudson siblings said it’s upsetting people still don’t understand the impact of the pandemic now.

“We’ve had family who has gotten sick and who has died from COVID,” said Angela Hudson. “It’s kind of frustrating to see people just come in and not wear a mask and be violent.”

Just a few weeks ago — prosecutors say Angela Nommensen was seen on surveillance video repeatedly refusing to wear her mask inside a gas station.

Investigators said when the clerk forced her outside, she pulled a gun on him. Prosecutors said they are noticing a trend in these types of crimes.

Maybe it’s because are so close to being at the end of the pandemic or they’re getting so frustrated and we’re not done, but either way when you pull a meat cleaver on somebody when you pull a gun at a gas station and we can prove that case, you’re going to get charged for it,” said Casey McNerthney.

Dousa is now charged with felony assault. On Monday, Nommensen pleaded not guilty to felony harassment.

Prosecutors said Dousa committed the crime while he was pending charges of third-degree and fourth-degree assault from July 18 out of Snohomish County. Dousa’s criminal history includes convictions for theft and harassment.

Dousa is locked up at the King County on a $75,000 bail.