Even with Christmas Nearing, Workers Kept Getting Attacked

Safety at Work

Miami, Fla. (WorkersCompensation.com) – Even with the Christmas holidays pending, customers and others couldn't stop attacking employees on the job. 

In Miami, Fla., a Planet Fitness employee was sent to the hospital after being attacked by a gym member.

According to the City of Miami Police Department, the employee was working at the SW 8th Avenue Planet Fitness on Dec. 12, when Kiara Byrant, 35, began making a scene in the women’s locker room. When the employee approached her and asked her to lower her voice, the woman began yelling at the employee and getting irate.

Video of the incident showed Bryant getting into the employee’s face, and the employee pushing Bryant away in self-defense. According to the police report, Bryant “was being constantly aggressive towards him while balling her fists.”

Bryant then put on her shoes, police said, after which time she leapt over the counter and started punching the employee repeatedly as he tried to cover his face. Police said the employee did not fight back.

After the attack, the employee was taken to the hospital with several injuries.

"She took things too far, brutally battered our client, and ultimately, left him in the hospital with a broken nose and severe emotional distress," said Alecsander Kohn, the victim's attorney.

After the attack, Bryant tried to leave the gym, video shows, but she was arrested and charged with battery and disorderly conduct. Kohn said he hopes the district attorney’s office will consider additional charges.

"This would be a case of felony battery. Hopefully, through some strong advocacy, there will be a modification of the charges to reflect the severity of the injuries he sustained," Kohn said.

Planet Fitness said it was working with police in regard to the incident.

"The safety of our employees and members is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for violence of any kind in our clubs,” the gym said to CBS News Miami in a statement. “We are committed to providing a safe environment.

The gym said Bryant’s membership has been canceled.

In Yonkers, a woman was arrested on Christmas Eve for an attack on a pregnant DSS worker.

According to the Westchester County Department of Social Services, one of their employees was attacked at the agency’s Yonkers district office.

Police said 30-year-old Melissa Cochrane was charged with three counts of assault in the second degree, one count of assault in the third degree and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court records, on Christmas Eve, Cochrane was in the district office when she began arguing with DSS case workers who were attempting to comply with a court order. Cochrane then grabbed a pregnant case worker by her neck and chest then forced her to the ground.

“The safety of our social services employees, who go out into the community every day to provide essential services to those in need, is non-negotiable,” Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. “As alleged, the defendant committed a brazen assault on a dedicated county employee who was simply doing her job. Public servants should never have to fear for their safety when they clock into work. I stand with all in this county who are outraged by this incident.”

Cacace has since called for legislation that would enhance penalties on anyone assaulting social services employees.

Cochrane was arraigned on Christmas Day and released the defendant without bail, on her own recognizance. She is due in court next on Jan. 8.

And in Lindenhurst, N.Y., on Long Island, a man was arrested after attacking and fatally stabbing a CVS worker on Christmas.

Police said John Pilaccio, 43, was arrested on Friday, Dec. 26, after he allegedly attacked the Lindenhurst CVS employee, Edeedson Cine, 23, of West Babylon.

Cine was working behind the counter on Christmas night around 7 p.m. when Pilaccio entered the store. After attempting to rob the store, Pilaccio stabbed Cine in the chest. Cine was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, N.Y., where he was pronounced dead.

Pilaccio had fled the store after the attack, but police were able to identify him through surveillance video. Pilaccio was originally charged with second-degree murder, but those charges were upgraded to first-degree murder on Jan. 2. Police said Pilaccio confessed to killing Cine and said he was driven to the robbery by his debt.

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