Lacey man allegedly smashes café window with ketchup bottle

A Lacey man was nabbed after allegedly hurling a ketchup bottle into a café window, causing it to shatter onto diners.

Olympia police arrested Alex Michael Martinez, 25, after a malicious mischief call at Spar Café on Fourth Avenue on April 5.

A café employee told police that Martinez walked into the establishment with a pink purse and presented a credit card that was not his.

The employee said Martinez began yelling at her when she told him that he was not allowed to use the card and asked him to leave. He then exited the café.

Once outside, Martinez picked up a ketchup bottle from a table and stood opposite two customers who were seated in front of a window, the employee said.

The suspect was believed to have intentionally aimed the bottle at the two diners.

“My sister and I were sitting at a table eating and the man walks up to the window in front of us, looked at both of us and threw a ketchup bottle right at the window directed at us,” one witness wrote. “He looked me in the eye when… he threw the ketchup bottle at me.”

An officer also noted that “there were two other windows that Martinez could have stood in front of.” Two other witnesses recounted seeing the suspect throw a ketchup bottle into the window.

The two diners in front of the window got up after getting shards of glass all over their laps and shoulders. No injuries were reported.

Martinez was booked into the Olympia City Jail for third-degree malicious mischief and reckless endangerment.

The owner of the credit card in the suspect’s possession said she was aware that Martinez attempted to use her cards but declined to be listed as a victim.