Indiana man allegedly demands food and phone charger at Taco Bell, then 3 employees barricade themselves inside manager’s office

Three Taco Bell employees barricaded themselves in a manager’s office after an Indiana man allegedly chased workers with a knife. Police said they arrived at the Indianapolis restaurant on November 3 to find the man banging on the office door while employees held it shut.

According to WKRC, an employee told investigators that 23-year-old Landon Jones had been banging on the counter and demanding food and a phone charger. He allegedly jumped over the counter and entered the kitchen, sending employees running.

Officers took Jones into custody, and he faces charges including three counts of criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and three counts of intimidation. The reported charges also include criminal recklessness, battery and disorderly conduct.

The confrontation followed them back inside

Someone got Jones out of the restaurant, but he allegedly fought with another person in the parking lot. When that person ran inside to get away, Jones allegedly followed, according to the court documents described in the report.

An Indianapolis man was taken into custody after he reportedly brandished a knife at a northeast-side Taco Bell and chased employees. https://t.co/Ggm4xBePzf

— FOX59 News (@FOX59) November 6, 2026

Jones allegedly banged on glass and threatened to kill someone after returning. Officers later reported hearing him shout, “They put their hands on me!” as they intervened.

Court documents also allege that Jones spat on an officer after being handcuffed. He faces a felony charge of battery by bodily waste upon a public safety officer in addition to the charges stemming

Workers need to know how to get help

OSHA’s prevention guidance for late-night retail businesses puts any questions employees have on threats and danger into emergency planning. It recommends training workers on escape routes, contacting authorities and reporting threats. Its checklist also asks whether trained staff and security assistance are available, making Taco Bell staffing concerns relevant to more than how quickly orders get filled.

That preparation falls to the employer. OSHA recommends assessing the risks at each workplace and making sure employees understand how to respond. These are prevention recommendations, though, and the agency has no specific federal workplace violence standard.

Workers who raise safety concerns have protections, too. Indiana’s Department of Labor lists reporting hazards to management and filing safety complaints as protected activities. Employees who believe they were fired, disciplined or otherwise punished for speaking up have 30 calendar days to file a retaliation complaint with the department.

In this case, police said three employees were holding an office door shut when officers arrived. Whether they followed an emergency plan or found somewhere to shelter on their own is unclear, but their account shows why workers need a way to get help when a threat follows them behind the counter.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]