Big Flats, NY — A Friday afternoon visit to a local burger restaurant turned into a criminal investigation after a Chemung County woman allegedly wielded a kitchen knife, doused employees and prepared food with bleach, and sent multiple people scrambling — all before walking out the door.
Chemung County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at approximately 11:09 a.m. on July 3 to Five Guys Burgers and Fries on County Route 64 in Big Flats after reports of a female customer attempting to fight with an employee.
Investigators say 36-year-old Larissa A. King of Elmira entered the restaurant and confronted a staff member. During the confrontation, King allegedly took possession of a 10-inch kitchen knife and an open bottle of bleach.
According to authorities, King then threw bleach at several employees and poured it directly onto prepared food, fresh produce, and the floor. One employee was directly doused with the chemical. Several customers inside the restaurant at the time were also reportedly exposed to the bleach.
King allegedly left the business shortly after the incident. Due to the contamination, the restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down.
Deputies located King’s vehicle a short time later during a traffic stop and took her into custody without incident.
King now faces a serious list of charges, including first-degree criminal trespass — a Class D felony — along with second-degree menacing, three counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, three counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child.
She was issued appearance tickets and is scheduled to appear in Big Flats Town Court at a later date.
The incident has raised concerns about public safety in local dining establishments, particularly involving the exposure of children and bystanders to a hazardous chemical in an enclosed space.
No injuries requiring emergency medical attention were immediately reported, though the full extent of exposure to those inside the restaurant remains unclear.
