Texas Whataburger Manager Hits Angry Customer with Trash Can: Video

A Whataburger manager in Paris, Texas, was forced to subdue a customer by apparently beating him with a trash can after the customer assaulted the workers there. (Photo by Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post/The Washington Post via Getty Im

A Whataburger manager in Paris, Texas, put the smackdown on a customer who allegedly accosted the workers, according to a witness video.

According to the report, Paris police officers responded on Feb. 22 to a Whataburger in the 2400 block of N. Main Street in Paris.

Paris officials said the manager asked a customer to leave after he’d been "verbally abusive" to workers at the restaurant. The customer complied, but threatened to return to the store to assault the manager after police left, officials said. The suspect later returned and threw several punches at the manager — who recovered, subdued the man and forced him out of the store, according to news reports.

Video captured by a witness appears to show the manager striking the customer with a trash can in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the irate individual.

Who was the suspect?

Police later identified the suspect as Anthony William Newhuis, 41, of Spring, Texas.

According to the release, officers found Newhuis bleeding from the head in the restaurant parking lot when they arrived. He was taken into custody and charged with assault causing bodily injury and public intoxication.

After Newhuis was taken to jail, he intentionally flooded the cells, the release states. Officials charged him with criminal mischief in connection with the flooding.

Where was the incident?

You can see a map of where the attack happened.

Feb 24, 2026