Police: Woman assaulted Lower Burrell McDonald's co-worker with drive-thru headset

Lower Burrell police accused a McDonald’s restaurant employee of assaulting a new co-worker by hitting her in the head with a $900 drive-thru window headset that broke the device.

Nicole Monique Brundage, 36, of the 200 block of Freeport Road in New Kensington was charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and criminal mischief and was issued a citation for harassment.

She faces a preliminary hearing May 23 before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec, according to court records.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that officers responded to a 911 call about 3 p.m. March 9 for a fight between employees at the restaurant in the 2700 block of Leechburg Road.

Brundage’s co-worker told police that it was her third day on the job and she was working the drive-thru window when she asked Brundage for help.

She said Brundage became rude and made a vulgar comment, which led to a heated argument between them, the complaint said.

The woman told police she reported the incident to a supervisor and was told that Brundage would be sent home for the day, the complaint said.

The woman returned to work, but she and Brundage began arguing again, the complaint said.

The woman told police Brundage threw the headset at her, hitting her in the temple, and then pushed her into a fryer station. She said she ran away from Brundage and hid in the restroom until police arrived.

Police said the woman’s temple was red and she was complaining of a headache but declined to be checked by paramedics.

After the incident, the woman went to a MedExpress Urgent Care center to be checked and was diagnosed with a mild concussion, the complaint said.

Police said three witnesses to the incident gave similar accounts of what happened in written statements.