The Alameda County District Attorney’s office charged suspect Anthony Demaria with assault on Thursday after attacking a staff member at Little Plearn Thai Kitchen in downtown Berkeley.

Around 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, Demaria walked into the establishment and sat at a table requesting free food, according to Berkeley Police Department public information officer Byron White.

Demaria “looked normal” and a server was about to take his order, but after demanding free food he was denied service, according to Sara Aung, a family member of Little Plearn’s owner. Aung added that the owner’s nephew approached Demaria to see that everything was okay, after which Demaria attacked the nephew.

“Everyone was shocked and scared and couldn’t believe what had happened because we’ve never seen something like this in the restaurant before,” Aung said in an email. “Thankful that good people didn’t hesitate to jump in to help.”

Customers were able to restrain Demaria until Berkeley police officers arrived at the scene and took him into custody, said White.

Aung said it took fewer than 10 minutes for the Berkeley Police Department to respond to the call. After the attack, the owner’s nephew was in pain and went to the hospital for an examination. As of press time, there are no updates as to his condition.

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