Gatecrasher harasses a vision-impaired man at store opening

A crowd of 50 people in line for a year’s supply of burgers were allegedly harassed by an interloper who has since been charged with assaulting police this morning.

A MAN has been charged with assaulting police and causing a public nuisance after allegedly harassing people waiting in line for a year’s supply of free burgers.

Some 50 people had queued outside the new Carl’s Jr Rothwell outlet on the Redcliffe Peninsula when, according to the head of security, a seemingly intoxicated person turned up at 1.45am on Thursday.

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Desmond Security Services head guard Mark Edwards, who has overseen all of Carl’s Jr’s six store openings in southeast Queensland, said the male seemed only intent on annoying members of the public.

Nathan, Lydia, Hayden and Michelle Young enjoying their free Carl's Jr burgers at Rothwell. Picture: Erin Smith

“We had an individual who was inebriated and proceeded to harass people and … tried to grab a gentleman and his seeing eye dog who was in the line,” he alleged.

“He was told to go but then he grabbed and ripped my shirt and police were called.”

The interloper returned an hour later and police were called again.

A Queensland police spokesman said a 48-year-old male was charged over the alleged incident and is due to front Redcliffe Magistrates Court on January 21, 2019.

Mr Edwards said it’s the first time people had been harassed while waiting overnight for a store opening.

He said it was members of the public who called police while security officers were trying to deal with the situation.

Dave Wilson was proud to be first in line for the opening of the Carl's Jr outlet at Eagleby in September. Picture: Supplied/Carl’s Jr

The Rothwell store incident follows the opening of the Hope Island outlet last week where three girls became aggressive after losing their place in the queue.

Mr Edwards said they have a strict policy for their opening promotions and anyone who leaves the site after receiving a number to designate their place in queue loses their position.

“Last time it was just verbal after three girls got a number and jumped in an Uber and went home and when they came back in the morning they got quite upset that we wouldn’t introduce them into the promotion,” Mr Edwards said.

Carl’s Jr offers a year of free burgers to the first 50 customers through the door on opening day of a store.

The Bansal Group has been behind the opening of the US burger franchise in Queensland and their next opening will be at Slacks Creek in late January.