On Christmas Eve, the employees at the Flag City McDonald’s in Lodi, California went above and beyond their duty to serve food. They potentially saved a woman’s life.
A man and a woman entered the fast-food restaurant, but it quickly became apparent that the woman was in danger. She managed to get to the counter on her own and whispered to a surprised employee to call 911. She even provided them with the license plate number of the vehicle they arrived in. Desperate for help, she asked the employee to hide her and they suggested she use the restroom to buy some time.
After she emerged from the restroom, she tried to approach the counter again, presumably to place an order for the man she was with, Eduardo Valenzuela. However, Valenzuela stopped her and directed her to use the drive-thru instead. Unbeknownst to him, the employee had already called the police, and the store manager instructed the employees to slow down the drive-thru line to ensure the police arrived in time to intercept the car.
As she reached the drive-thru window, the woman made one last plea for help. She mouthed the words “help me” to an employee, who immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Shortly after, the police arrived in the parking lot.
Inside the restaurant, the employees quickly informed the police that the woman in need of assistance was still waiting in line outside. Deputies approached the car and ordered the woman to pull over. She obeyed, and that gave her the opportunity to tell the police about the violence she had endured at the hands of Valenzuela. On that day, he had even threatened her with a gun, coercing her to drive him to visit his family.
During a search of the vehicle, the police discovered a loaded revolver in the trunk that belonged to Valenzuela. Due to a prior felony conviction, he was prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. The deputies promptly arrested Valenzuela and booked him in the San Joaquin County Jail on charges of criminal threats, stolen property, and felony possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $360,000.
While we hope that the outcome would have been the same at any restaurant, the woman was fortunate to have chosen this particular McDonald’s. This location is owned by the Golden State Restaurant Group, which certifies its restaurants as official “Safe Places.”
The Safe Place program is a national initiative that provides immediate help and safety to young people in need. It has designated locations in schools, fire stations, libraries, and various businesses. These locations can be identified by the Safe Place stickers on windows and doors. Although the program primarily focuses on assisting young people, the employees are trained to be vigilant and help anyone in need, regardless of age.
With over 20,000 Safe Place sites across the United States, people in crisis can find the closest location by checking an interactive map or sending a text message with the word “safe” along with their city, state, or zip code to 4HELP (44357). They will receive the location of the nearest Safe Place and the contact information of a local youth agency.
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