A movie outing at AMC Burbank 16 reportedly took an unexpected turn when a disagreement over cellphone use ended with a man being pepper-sprayed inside the theater.
Burbank police said 34-year-old Los Angeles resident Matthew Ware was arrested and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. The incident happened while The Uprising was being shown at the theater. The movie was scheduled at AMC Burbank 16 that day, with afternoon and evening screenings.
According to the account provided to police, the confrontation began roughly 30 to 40 minutes into the movie. Joe Rodriguez, who was in the theater, said the incident took place toward the back of the auditorium.
Rodriguez said another moviegoer was using a cellphone with its brightness turned down when Ware approached him and asked him to stop using the phone.
The moviegoer reportedly refused.
Police said the exchange escalated, and Ware allegedly sprayed the man with pepper spray.
Rodriguez described the incident as unusual and said the disagreement could have ended differently after the initial request to put the phone away.
The incident also happened at a busy Burbank cinema that was showing several movies that evening. AMC Burbank 16 is located at 125 E. Palm Ave. in downtown Burbank.
The arrest was made inside the theater, according to police. The case involves an allegation of misdemeanor battery, and the allegations against Ware have not been established as facts in court.
For moviegoers, the incident is an unusual reminder of how quickly a disagreement inside a theater can escalate. Cellphone use during screenings can be distracting to other audience members, but disputes over theater etiquette can also create a confrontation if they are not handled calmly.
Police have not indicated that anyone suffered a serious injury in the incident based on the information available for this report.
The investigation and any subsequent court proceedings will determine what happened during the confrontation and what legal consequences, if any, follow.
