Man Arrested After Creating Disturbance at Red Lobster

A Plainsboro man allegedly became enraged and assaulted his wife – who was holding their 8-month-old son at the time – while the family was dining inside the Red Lobster restaurant Tuesday evening (May 17), according to police.

Numerous Lawrence Township police officers responded to the seafood eatery in the 3200 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) after authorities received calls about 7:30 p.m. about an unruly patron allegedly trying to harm his wife and another woman.

Officers quickly arrived and learned that the suspect, John Paul Soric, a 31-year-old resident of the 3300 block of Hunters Glen Drive in Plainsboro, had gotten into a verbal dispute with his 31-year-old wife while in the restaurant, according to Lt. Charles Edgar, police department spokesman.

Soric reportedly got up from his table and walked toward the bar. When his wife, carrying their child, followed and tried to talk to him, he allegedly yelled at her, tried to pull the boy out of her arms, and then finally grabbed her in “bear hug,” squeezing both her and the 8-month-old, Edgar said.

The woman, clearly in pain, tried to escape but was unable to break free from her husband’s grasp, Edgar said. Soric was described as being about 6 feet 6 inches tall and 300 pounds.

Other restaurant patrons, fearing for the safety of the woman and her young son, intervened, Edgar said. They released the woman and subdued Soric until police arrived, he said.

During the disturbance, Soric also allegedly “went after” another woman who was trying to assist his wife, but that woman eluded him and was not harmed, Edgar said.

He said Soric was arrested and charged with domestic violence/simple assault.