According to witnesses, the incident occurred about 40 minutes into the film, around 5:30 p.m., when the victim had his phone out and the screen brightness lowered. Ware reportedly asked the patron to turn off the device; when the request was refused, he allegedly sprayed the man with pepper spray.
The victim fled the auditorium, pursued briefly by other attendees, and a witness called 911. Police arrived, detained Ware in the theater lobby and later booked him at the Burbank Jail on a misdemeanor battery charge.
Burbank Fire Department personnel responded to the scene, and two other theatergoers who experienced irritation from the spray were treated at a local hospital before being released.
AMC Burbank 16, a popular downtown venue, said it would refund tickets to all patrons who were present for the screening. One witness, Joe Rodriguez, said the episode was “the most bizarre thing” he’d seen at a movie theater and joked that the incident made the evening more memorable than the film itself.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about cellphone use during screenings and the lengths some patrons will go to enforce theater etiquette. Police have not indicated whether additional charges beyond misdemeanor battery are being considered.