Restaurant to police: Stop eating here

Police were asked to stop eating at this teriyaki place in Washington state. (Credit: Skagit County Sheriff's Department, via Facebook)

Police in Washington state were shaking their heads in disbelief after a restaurant owner in Sedro-Woolley in essence told four officers who were in the middle of dining: After you eat, leave – and don't come back.

The owner later made it clear he meant the message for all police, not just the four.

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The Skagit County Sheriff's Office posted a run-down of the incident on Facebook.

"I am not often speechless but today I was advised of an incident at the Lucky Teriyaki restaurant in Sedro-Woolley that completely took me by surprise," wrote Will Reichardt, with the sheriff's office. "Particularly on the heels of the United We Stand by our Law Enforcement event that was such an overpowering show of appreciation for our deputies and officers serving Skagit County."

He recounted how four deputies were finishing their meal at the restaurant, and two left the table to go pay.

"As 2 deputies went up to pay they were informed by the owner that he requested they not eat there anymore," Reichardt wrote. "They were told that other customers didn't like law enforcement there. My chief deputy spoke to the owner to confirm this because he simply could not believe what he was hearing."

And the owner's response?

"The owner not only repeated the request but asked that we spread the word to other law enforcement that they were no longer welcome either," Reichardt said. "I understand a business owner has a right to refuse service if he wants to ... I also understand that as customers we all have the right to find some other restaurant to take our lunch break in."

The post by Friday had recorded more than 15,000 reactions and 27,500-plus shares.

And social-media comments seemed largely in favor of the cops.

One wrote: "Sheriffs office also has the right to not show up when he calls for help next time .. WoW!!"

To that, Skagit County Sheriff's Office replied: "Actually we will continue to serve and protect."

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Another poster suggested that perhaps there was a "language barrier" and the "deputies simply misunderstood what was said?"

Again, the sheriff's office weighed in with a response, simply saying, "No language barrier."

Yet another wrote: "I would prefer to go to a restaurant where law enforcement is welcome. I would feel safer ... Thank you officers for all of your hard work!!!"

And one more, critical of the deputies: "The cops were getting loud and vulgar. I can't blame the owner for asking them not to come back. If you can't behave properly in public that will happen to you sometimes."