California Moviegoer Accused of Attacking Theater Workers After Dispute Over Outside Drinks

A movie theater visit in Los Angeles reportedly turned violent after a customer was told she could not bring outside beverages inside. The woman and her male companion are accused of assaulting employees at Regency Theatres in Van Nuys, with surveillance footage capturing parts of the confrontation.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2026, shortly after 7:30 p.m., according to NBC Los Angeles.

Dispute Begins With Four Cans of Drinks

Ruby Arcos Delacruz, a theater employee, told reporters that the confrontation began when she checked a customer’s bag and found four cans of beverages. She said she informed the woman that outside drinks were not permitted and asked her to put them in her car.

According to Delacruz, the customer became angry and continued arguing with her. The situation reportedly escalated after the woman’s male companion returned to the theater.

Delacruz alleged that the woman struck her in the face. When a manager, Josh Bedolla, intervened, he was also drawn into the confrontation.

Manager Also Caught in the Altercation

Bedolla told NBC Los Angeles that the woman hit him twice in the face, knocking his glasses to the ground. He said the male companion grabbed him while the woman allegedly stomped on the fallen glasses before turning back toward Delacruz.

The confrontation became a physical struggle involving the employees and the two customers. According to Delacruz, the theater’s security guard was on a break when the incident occurred.

The employee later described the experience as frightening and said she was left dealing with injuries following the altercation. The theater’s president, Lyndon Golin, said the company was deeply troubled by the incident and emphasized that the safety of staff and guests was a priority.

Police Search for Two Suspects

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a battery call at the theater. According to NBC Los Angeles, the two individuals had reportedly left before officers arrived, and no one was in custody as of the evening of October 21.

Police said both suspects could face felony battery charges. The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have not been adjudicated in court.

What began as a disagreement over a theater’s outside-food-and-drink policy has now become a police investigation, with employees describing a confrontation that escalated far beyond the original dispute.

Sources:  NYPOST