A McDonald's owner in Ellk Grove is under fire after reportedly kicking out a group of mentally disabled customers.
According to ABC News 10, the group, who often goes for outings at the fast-food chain in California, was asked to leave the establishment by the franchise's manager. Constance Gastinell, who works with adults through programs "that help integrate them into the community in which they live in," accompanied the group to McDonald's.
Gastinell told ABC News 10 the manager confronted the party and told them they were not allowed to eat at the establishment and insisted they leave.
"He came in and he said, 'well you guys, you can't eat here, you have to leave,'" Gastinell told ABC News 10.
Gastinell said she was told by the owner that the adults were "conducting business." ABC News 10 reported that the group were not carrying paperwork or anything similar, but just attended the establishment to have lunch.
"We weren't conducting business," Gastinell said. "We came into eat. We had no paperwork; we had money to buy."
According to ABC News 10, restaurant owner Dennis and Vicki Caldwell, issued a statement, which explained the group was disrupting guest and causing employees trouble.
"This recent situation involved a food fight within their group, and disruption to our other guests," it stated. "We have consistently attempted to work with these guests and accommodate their needs as best we can."
The Caldwells later added that this was not the first incident involving the group. Gastinell denied the group was acting wrongly during their lunch time and later stated she believed the adults were targeted because of their disorder.
"We went in to eat. We weren't disruptive," Gastinell told ABC News 10. "I did feel as though they were targeting us, although he [the owner] says that he wasn't. Being kicked out, how else are you supposed to feel?
"They're people like we're people, so they shouldn't be discriminated against," it said.
Gastinell said she has no plans to go back to the eatery.
