Assault at Local Taco Shop

There was violence today at Paco’s Tacos in National City when a woman who was accused of theft, attacked and was subdued with a headlock by the owner Paco del Toro. The incident occurred at 3:04pm.

36year-old Lorita Lynn was accused by del Toro, 45, of taking too many Sweet ‘N Lows, costing his business money. The affair became violent when Lynn felt threatened and allegedly charged del Toro with a beer bottle. He then put her in a headlock and forced her to the ground. Officer Loyd Swiftpack who was patrolling near the restaurant appeared and took Lynn into custody. Lynn has been charged with theft and assault, del Toro has also been charged with assault. Both are expected at a court hearing on Wednesday.

Lynn filed a lawsuit against del Toro to the effect of $8000 for emotional damage. Del Toro filed a counter lawsuit for property damage. The cost has yet to be determined. Lynn says that del Toro told her to “take as much (Sweet ‘N Low) as you want,” Lynn who had been taking seven to nine a day for the past three months had finally pushed del Toro to far. When he confronted her, he found that Lynn had $200 worth of Sweet ‘N Lows stashed in her pockets.

Lynn claims that she was just taking what she was offered and that she at no point felt as though she was stealing. There is controversy about who provoked the fight, Swiftpack said, “It looked as if he (del Toro) was simply restraining her.”

“If I had not put her in a headlock we all know what would have happened next” said del Toro “she would have broken the bottle.” Lynn claims it was not a beer bottle but a nail polish bottle.

  Lynn lives in Chula Vista and works at an AmPm. She was a regular at Paco’s Tacos until the incident. Del Toro has owned the restaurant for 20 years has never dealt with a similar situation before.

- Yaritza Hernandez, Alexander Escobedo