A brawl broke out at a Bay Area restaurant over a missing phone. It was in the lost and found.

An argument over a missing cell phone led to a brawl at a Newark pizza place that involved at least 20 people, according to one witness.

The surprise twist: It turned out the cell phone was turned into the restaurant's lost and found hours before the brawl started, police told NBC Bay Area.

The fight broke out Saturday night at John's Incredible Pizza Company at the NewPark Mall. Video captured patrons throwing punches and yelling at each other as staff members tried to separate different groups that were fighting.

Food is a powerful thing. Just ask the following people, who allegedly committed some really ridiculous crimes in pursuit of a snack. Food is a powerful thing. Just ask the following people, who allegedly committed some really ridiculous crimes in pursuit of a snack. Photo: Viktoriia Leontieva/EyeEm Photo: Viktoriia Leontieva/EyeEm Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close A brawl broke out at a Bay Area restaurant over a missing phone. It was in the lost and found. 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

Nicole Davis recorded the fight and confirmed the police account of events, telling SFGATE that at least 20 people took part in the fight and that pepper spray was deployed at one point in the brawl.

"It was a horrible experience," Davis said of the fight. "I made sure I protected my kids until they cleared the way so we can get out, but I just hated the fact they did this at a family establishment. It makes me sick that my kids had to see that and all the kids that were scared crying."

Davis said staff members had trouble containing the fight before police arrived and didn't initially help other patrons get out of the restaurant when the fight broke out.

"One staff member jumped in by himself to stop the fight and ended up getting hurt. He had no backup. That just wasn't a safe move," Davis said of the employees. "It's not their fault. This is not their job title. They don't train them for things like this."

The large crowd size prompted Newark police to ask the Fremont Police Department for assistance in breaking up the brawl.

A manager later found the missing cell phone while police were at the restaurant, NBC Bay Area reported. Only minor injuries were sustained during the fight and there were no arrests, according to police.