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Moviegoer Pepper-Sprayed Over Phone Use
20 Sep
Summary
- A man was arrested for pepper-spraying another moviegoer.
- The assault occurred at a Burbank AMC theater.
- Phone usage during a film sparked the confrontation.

A dispute over cellphone usage at a Burbank AMC theater escalated dramatically this past week when a 34-year-old man allegedly pepper-sprayed another moviegoer. Matthew Ware, from Los Angeles, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge following the incident. He was booked into Burbank Jail and released the next morning.
The confrontation began moments before a loud aerosol spray was heard, followed by screams of distress. Police apprehended Ware in the lobby. Reports indicate that at least two other individuals were treated at a hospital for exposure to the pepper spray.
The incident quickly drew considerable attention online, with many discussing the unwritten rules of cinema etiquette. While some users expressed understanding for frustrations with phone use, others condemned the use of pepper spray as an excessive reaction.