Peoria man James Taylor is frustrated and fears for his family’s safety after being fired last week. Friday he left the ‘Kwicherbichen Kitchen’ in Peoria where he was cook after being fired by owner Heidi Rednour.

He said what came next was insult to injury after a grueling process to open the restaurant for which he wasn’t paid. “I need the money for my family. But you can’t just let somebody sit there and make you feel two inches tall,” said Taylor.

Rednour admits to using a racial slur, calling Taylor the N-word after firing him. “I did use the N-word. I did. I apologize for using that word. It was a bad choice of words but I was very upset,” explained Rednour.

Taylor said Rednour was verbally berating him to customers and even joked he wasn’t going to be paid. Taylor said he became tired of the atmosphere and asked for his money before leaving.

“She crumpled up a twenty and threw it at me and I said you owe me more than this,” said Taylor. Rednour explained from her perspective, “He was still complaining so I balled up forty more. I threw him sixty dollars and told him to get out.”

Rednour said Taylor then came back to the restaurant and stole food from the kitchen, money from the register, and her bookbag that contained personal information, bank statements, and her wallet. She filed a police report but said since her security cameras are set up on the exterior, there was no evidence to prove he took anything.

Taylor denies taking anything. Stating that her Facebook posts and comments are damaging his reputation. In the police report it states Rednour fired Taylor for “being drunk”. But Taylor said that is simply not true.

“I was trying to be as kind as possible giving her a chance to make it right and just pay me my money. She went to that dark place and called me the N-word,” explained Taylor.

Something that doesn’t seem to rub Rednour the wrong way. “So to me, and let me just be clear. The n-word is not a color it’s a mentality. It’s called dumb**s. And a thieving person. So when I use that term that’s how I’m using it. Not to be racial,” she explained.

Both parties claim the other owes money. Taylor for the work he did and Rednour for “lost inventory.” The only way for either to be compensated is to come to an agreement or go to court.