81-year-old pizza restaurant owner struck after alleged face covering confrontation
Angel Gomez, 27, of Springfield, is facing several related charges.
The 81-year-old owner of George’s Pizza in Provincetown was allegedly hit in the face by a patron after that man refused to wear a face mask properly Saturday night.George Kraniotakis has owned the Cape Cod eatery for over 35 years, according to NBC10 Boston. That night around 9:30 p.m., a group was inside the restaurant. They reportedly weren’t properly socially distanced and weren’t wearing their face coverings the correct way. Kraniotakis told the news station he was struck after he asked the group to socially distance.“I tell him to sit down, you can’t stay all together by the bar,” Kraniotakis said, according to the news station. “He say, ‘You no tell me what to do.’ So I say, ‘Go out.’ And he punched me in the eyes right here. Just like that. Bam!”Angel Gomez, 27, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty to several charges that include assault and battery on a person over 60, disorderly conduct, and providing false information to law enforcement, according to the Cape Cod Times. He’s being held pending his next hearing in August — he was out on probation for distribution of a Class B drug and possession of a firearm without a license.According to Gomez’s attorney, Henry Curtis, the altercation began after Kraniotakis moved from behind the counter and got close to Gomez, telling him to speak English, the newspaper reported. Curtis said Gomez acted in self defense and pushed the restaurant owner.Francine Kraniotakis said Gomez and his group wouldn’t sit at a table, the Times reported.“They weren’t wearing their masks when we asked them to,” she told the newspaper after Gomez’s arraignment. “My dad comes around and asks them to sit down and put on their masks. The guy said something like, ‘We don’t want to.’”After the altercation, Gomez and his group left. They went to MacMillan Pier, according to the Times. A George’s Pizza employee said he went there and attempted to tackle Gomez. Andrew Chartier said Gomez bit him during that time.Francine Kraniotakis said the restaurant is attempting to enforce the rules under Gov. Charlie Baker’s phased reopening plan, the Times reported.“I’m very angry and upset,” she said, according to the newspaper. “My father is my heart. He is a huge, upstanding member of this community.”
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