Video: M Cantina Calls Police On Disgruntled Diner

DEARBORN, MI — A local diner had a bad experience at the popular M Cantina restaurant in East Dearborn and his Facebook video of the encounter is going viral. Maurice El-Amin’s 15-minute Facebook Live video documented Dearborn police being called after he didn’t want to pay for a dish he said had a strong “chemical” taste to it.

The man is an assistant principal at Cass Tech High School and reportedly took one bite of his chicken tinga tacos, only to not like them. He reportedly said he didn’t want to pay for the $10 tacos and one of the owners called the police in, the Detroit Metro Times reported.

El-Amin's Facebook Live video has been viewed more than 21,000 times now.

The Detroit Free Press reported that El-Amin told the server about it before the cops were called and asked to order something else. El-Amin said that another employee told him the menu clearly explained that the dish contained chipotle, and that he could order something else — but would still have to pay for the tinga. El-Amin said he didn't think the chipotle was the problem, though.

"Bad customer service is not against the law. To not pay for your food would be," one officer said to El-Amin, after El-Amin explain what happened.

El-Amin questioned whether the cops were called because he is black and said there was a “fear” knowing the police were coming. He had originally wanted to walk out, but instead waited for the police.

Owner and chef Junior Merino issued an apology with the Detroit Free Press and said he wished the situation could have been handled differently, but that it was not a racially-charged situation.

"We serve mostly other people that are not Hispanic or that are not white. It has nothing to do with (race)," Merino said. "We are just here to provide a service."

Screenshot via Facebook Live