Scuffle Over Nutella Waffles at Costco Leads to Criminal Charges

A man allegedly hit another man at a tasting table at Costco in Burbank on Sunday

A 24-year-old man has been charged in connection with punching a 78-year-old shopper in the face after the victim protested about how many samples the man had taken at a Nutella waffle tasting station at a Costco in Burbank, police said.

Derrick Gharabighi, of Burbank, has been charged with felony elder abuse and personal infliction of great bodily injury against a person over 70 years of age, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The suspect is accused of striking a man in the face Sunday morning when the man told him he shouldn't take so many waffles after the alleged assailant took multiple samples off the table at the Costco at 1051 West Burbank Boulevard, officials said.

The victim suffered a cut above his left eye and swelling around his face and was hospitalized, officials said.

Gharabighi was booked into jail with bail set at $50,000.

It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

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