Man accused of assaulting manager of local eatery

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A man is accused of putting a restaurant manager in a headlock and breaking his clavicle after the manager asked the man to leave the establishment, police said. 

Claude E. Thompson, 29, was arrested and booked into Pinal County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, according to officers. 

According to Maricopa Police, witnesses stated and surveillance footage showed that a manager asked Thompson to leave the restaurant’s patio for unknown reasons at about 11:40 a.m. He refused. 

When the manager tried to step away to call police, they said, Thompson reportedly stepped in front of the manager, preventing him from returning inside. 

Thompson reportedly then pushed the manager, and the manager pushed Thompson back, according to the probable-cause statement. Thompson then grabbed the manager and slammed him to the ground, where Thompson reportedly placed him in a headlock for a few seconds. The manager was taken to Dignity Health Center, where medical staff determined his right clavicle had been broken. 

Thompson reportedly admitted to involvement in the altercation and pushing the manager, police said. 

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