Nutella Fight: Derrick Gharabighi Arrested For Assaulting Elderly Man Over Costco Samples
A Nutella fight, which occurred at a California Costco store, left one man injured and another facing 11 years in prison. Authorities confirmed 24-year-old Derrick Gharabighi assaulted 78-year-old Sahak Sahakian over samples of Nutella that were being served on waffles.
According to witness reports, the victim was reaching for a sample when Gharabighi cut into line and took more than his fair share.
As reported by Time, the elderly man “scolded Gharabighi” for hoarding the Nutella waffles. In response, the young man proceeded to punch the victim in the face.
Sahakian was transported from Costco to a local hospital, where he was treated for bruising and a “significant laceration above his left eye.” Although he was hospitalized, the injuries were not life threatening.
Man (24) charged with supermarket attack on 78-year-old – over free Nutella samples http://t.co/U964Hr2GpS pic.twitter.com/PU4tDhBPVF
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) September 23, 2015
Derrick Gharabighi was arrested for injuring the elderly man amid the Nutella fight. As reported by CNN, the younger man was charged with “felony elder abuse and personal infliction of great bodily injury against a person over 70 years of age.” If convicted, Gharabighi is facing 11 years in prison.
During his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty. He is currently being held on $50,000 bond pending and October 2 hearing.
Although the Nutella fight was bizarre, the situation is not unique. In 2010, a 68-year-old man was arrested at a Minnesota Cub Foods store for taking “too many free samples.” As reported by Twin Cities, Erwin Lingitz was warned on several occasions prior to his arrest.
According to the store manager, Lingitz was initially caught with an estimated 20 cookies that he took from a free sample tray. Although he attempted to hide the cookies inside produce bags, he was caught in the act.
The manager, who was not named, let the man go with a stern warning.
Unfortunately, Lingitz failed to heed the warning. On the date of his arrest, authorities found “14-16 packets of soy sauce… one plastic produce bag containing 0.61 pounds [of] summer sausage, and another plastic produce bag containing 0.85 pounds of beef stick” crammed inside his pockets.
Lingitz later filed a lawsuit against the supermarket and local authorities, as he believed the arrest was a violation of his civil rights.
Man faces 11 years in prison due to fight over Nutella with 78-year-old http://t.co/qxBb5in8Rv pic.twitter.com/obqFEGWZox
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 23, 2015
Although he is currently incarcerated, Derrick Gharabighi’s social media accounts are filled with harsh remarks about the Nutella fight. Neither the defendant nor his attorney have commented on the Costco fight.
[Image via Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com]
