In a recent development from Indiana, prosecutors have announced that they will not pursue charges in the case of a 75-year-old Tim Hortons patron who passed away following an altercation with a drive-thru manager.
Anita Grayson, who suffered from congestive heart failure, tragically died after a confrontation on May 13 at the Fort Wayne coffee shop. Her untimely death prompted an investigation due to initial uncertainty among authorities about whether it was accidental or constituted a homicide.
On Friday, the Allen County prosecutors stated that no charges will be filed, officially clearing all involved staff members of any wrongdoing, as detailed in a report reviewed by The Post.
Grayson, a mother to four children, stormed into the coffeehouse shortly after 8 a.m., expressing her discontent over an order to a 17-year-old employee. This led the 20-year-old shift manager to step in.
According to Fort Wayne investigators, the shift manager tried to prevent Grayson from approaching the teenage worker by placing her hands on Grayson, which resulted in her being “forcefully shoved”.
The senior then struck the manager on the left side of her nose and she tried to retaliate.
Grayson then grabbed the manager’s face, scratched her and knocked off her glasses before yanking her hair and pulling her to the ground.
Then, two other Tim Hortons staffers rushed in and tried to pull the pair apart, but Grayson then pulled a clump of hair from the shift manager.
She was then seen putting clumps of hair in her bag before being found unresponsive.
Prosecutors refused to file charges as they said the shift manager was defending her colleague.
“Grayson’s escalation to striking [the manager] in the face was not a proportionate or justified response to being touched on the shoulders,” investigators said.
“As a matter of law, it is Grayson’s blow, not [the manager’s] earlier contact that started the altercation.”
The manager’s actions “did not exceed what the ongoing struggle reasonably called for,” investigators said.
[Her] “initial intervention is independently justified as defense of a third person,” investigators added.
“She said she thought Grayson was going to attack the minor employee, so she stepped in.
“Under Indiana law, the State cannot proceed unless it can disprove legal justification beyond a reasonable doubt, and on this record it cannot. The current conclusion is that no criminal charges will be filed.”
Grayson’s manner of death was undetermined, Allen County coroners said last month.
Her death was the result of “acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure in the setting of physical altercation,” E. Jon Brandenberger said in his ruling.
“The symptoms of congestive heart failure get worse when there is adrenaline flowing in a physical altercation, and then a sudden flare up of the heart failure, which then can lead to symptoms, or hospitalization, and even death,” the coroner said.
Coroners ruled out an accidental or natural death given the circumstances.
Investigators also ruled out homicide after examining all of the evidence and said Grayson didn’t suffer any “significant contributory injuries” as a result of the fight.
“There has been exhaustive investigation and review in the evidence of this case,” Brandenberger said.
“The video was reviewed multiple times by the homicide detectives, by my staff, by the prosecutor, and by the forensic pathologist. Bodycam videos were reviewed. We listened to and transcribed the four 911 calls and multiple meetings.
“After exhaustive review, we could not determine with reasonable certainty that Mrs. Grayson’s death was either natural, or homicide, or accident.
“Therefore the manner of death that is appropriate to use is undetermined, meaning could not be determined.”
Grayson’s family hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to pursue potential litigation and her daughter, Tawnda Grayson, called for justice.
“She was the best mother anyone could ask for — hardworking, compassionate, selfless, and always willing to help others before herself,” Tawnda Grayson said.