Man 'having awful day' attacks cashier for packing crisps with canned goods: ‘I didn’t want them to get all smashed up’

Police claim 'this issue with the chips just sent him over the edge'

A man has been charged with assault after he allegedly attacked a grocery store employee for packaging his items the wrong way.

Bradley Bower — who told police he simply was having an awful day — became frustrated when the cashier placed his crisps in the same bag as his canned goods, officials said.

According to the victim, Mr Bower quickly grew agitated and asked him: “Do you have a problem with me? Because I have a problem with you.”

Mr Bower grabbed the employee by his neck and shoved him into the register, calling him an “idiot” before he managed to escape and have a manager call the police, officers said.

The officers who responded to the incident noted Mr Bower admit he was wrong to attack the cashier, but “this issue with the chips just sent him over the edge”.

The employee appeared to be shocked by the assault, telling officers he initially thought Bower was joking when he began confronting him over the placement of his food.

Bower told officers he was worried about several bags of crisps he had purchased and “didn’t want them to get all smashed up”.

He also told police he had previously requested the cashier not to “throw his groceries around”.

A criminal complaint said the assault occurred 2 February at a Giant Food Store in Pennsylvania.

The 55-year-old Mr Bower, who was with his wife at the time of the incident, was charged via summons.