Mantua coffee tosser identified, warrant issued

This post has been updated.

A 52-year-old man who hurled a scalding hot cup of coffee at a donut shop employee and fled in a tan Cadillac — which matched the suit he was wearing — was identified by police as David Timbers, of Mantua.

Timbers got in an argument with a female employee at Fresh Donuts on Lancaster Avenue near 39th Tuesday around 11:05 a.m. about whether he paid for a sandwich that he ordered.

The cashier repeatedly told Timbers that he never paid her, and he reached into his pants pocket and slapped a few bills onto the counter. As she placed a cup of coffee onto the counter, he snatched it out of her hand and threw it back, severely burning the woman, police said. He cursed at the woman and onlookers as he left the store with an unidentified man.

Police said the man never actually paid for the sandwich.

The incident was recorded on the shop's surveillance camera and police posted it online Thursday. Immediately afterward, the Southwest Detective Division — headquartered on Pine Street near 55th — was flooded with tips from the public about the suspect in the childish assault.

"It's a senseless act," said Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detective Division. "I mean, he's 52-years-old, he should know better than that."

Timbers, of Haverford Avenue near 37th Street was not home when cops stopped by Friday, and is now considered a fugitive, police said.

Cops describe Timbers as a black man who is about 6'1 and weighs 200 pounds. He was wearing a tan suit and tie, tan shoes, sunglasses and a gold watch. A man he was with was wearing a green baseball cap and also wore a tan suit jacket, police said. He fled in a tan or gold Cadillac, police said.

Timbers will likely face aggravated assault charges among other offenses. Tipsters are asked to call the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183 or the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).