On Christmas Day, around 2:00 p.m., employees of the Flag City McDonald’s in Lodi, California found themselves in a situation that went far beyond their usual food service duties. Little did they know that their quick thinking and compassion could have played a vital role in potentially saving a life.
A man and a woman walked into a fast food restaurant, but it turned out that the woman was in distress. Despite the difficult circumstances, she managed to get to the counter where she approached the no doubt startled employee and whispered to them urgently to call 911. She gave them the license plate number of the vehicle they had arrived in and asked them to help her.
When she finally left, she tried to approach the counter again, maybe to order something for Eduardo Valenzuela, the person she was with. Instead, he urged her to take advantage of the ride after she pulled over.
She was lucky that the employee had already called the police and that the store manager had ordered the employees to shorten the drive-thru line at the restaurant so that the police could arrive in time to stop the car.
The woman once again motioned for help at the drive-thru window and said “Help me” to the worker. Police arrived at the parking lot a short time later.
They arrived at the restaurant when the staff informed them that a woman who needed help was still waiting in line outside.
When the officers came outside, they ordered the car to stop. The woman followed the instructions while driving the vehicle.
She then managed to inform the authorities that Valenzuela had previously been violent towards her and that day he had even threatened to shoot her if she did not take him to see his relatives.
When police searched the trunk of the car, they discovered a loaded handgun that belonged to Valenzuela. He was not allowed to have a gun or ammunition because he had already been convicted of a felony.
Deputies then arrested Valenzuela, who was then booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on charges of making criminal threats, possession of stolen property, and felon in possession of a firearm.
His $360,000 bond was posted.
The woman was lucky to stop at this particular McDonald’s, although we hope the result would have been the same at any location.
The Golden State Restaurant Group, which owns it, has designated each of its restaurants as a legitimate “Safe Place.”
The Safe Place program is a national initiative for “young people who need immediate help and safety”; locations can be found in libraries, fire stations, schools, and other facilities. You can recognize them by the stickers on the windows and doors.
Thanks to this accreditation, these places can be visited by young people in need, and staff will put them in touch with a youth support organization. Safe Place trained staff are undoubtedly alert to anyone in need, regardless of age.
There are more than 20,000 safe places in the US.
For anyone who needs a safe place, there are resources available to help them find the closest one. You can access an interactive map or individuals can simply text the word “safe” along with their city, state, or zip code to 4HELP (44357). This text service will provide you with the location of the nearest safe place and contact information for a local youth agency.
In this harrowing Christmas Eve incident, the employees of the Flag City McDonald’s in Lodi, California demonstrated not only their dedication to their jobs but their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of their patrons. Their quick thinking and compassionate response potentially played a key role in ensuring that a woman in need found the help and support she desperately needed. It’s a reminder that in times of crisis, individuals and organizations can come together to make a positive difference in the lives of those facing adversity.