Coralville restaurant owner arrested after allegedly slapping employee’s butt

Lang

11/20/18

A Coralville restaurant owner faces charges that he slapped a female employee on the butt.

50-year-old Andrew Knudsen of Auburn Hills Drive also faces drug charges after police say they found cocaine on his person.

Officers were called to Mellow Mushroom in Coral Ridge Mall at 7:30 Sunday night after an employee reported that Knudsen, who is her boss, had slapped her on the butt after giving her a high-five. One witness reported seeing the incident, and another said the slap was so loud that she and several other people heard it.

During a search of Knudsen’s person upon his arrest, a clear plastic baggie containing approximately two grams of white powder was found in his right pants pocket. The substance, believed to be cocaine, has been sent to the Department of Criminal Investigations lab for testing.

Knudsen is charged with Assault and Possession of a Controlled Substance. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 13 months in jail.