Salem Restaurant Manager Says She Was Attacked After Tip Dispute

A Salem restaurant owner said she was attacked following a dispute over a tip last weekend.

Yan Lin, who manages Koto Grill and Sushi, told CBS Boston a group of five tourist asked her server to split their bill four ways and refused to tip before she intervened. Lin asked the group to please tip the server and said a woman then followed her to the front of the restaurant, demanded her credit card back and shoved Lin into the wall, which was captured on surveillance footage shared with CBS Boston.

Lin said police responded to the restaurant two days after the incident took place.

“The only thing in my mind is you know glad it is not my server who get attacked, it’s me,” Lin told CBS Boston. “I am a strong woman.”

Lin told CBS Boston that she, like most restaurant owners, has had difficulties with lost revenue during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is taking place during an otherwise peak tourism season. The Massachusetts Health Department reported a total of 141,474 COVID-19 cases, including 827 new cases reported in a 24-hour span and 9,532 COVID related deaths, including 15 newly reported deaths.

Lin said she gave the surveillance video and information to Salem Police, but has not provided an update on the status of the case as of Tuesday afternoon.

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