Missouri waitress claims group of customers pulled her into the Lake of the Ozarks after she tried to make them pay bill

A Missouri waitress was reportedly pulled into a lake by a group of diners who attempted to leave without paying their bill.

Liahna Bertels was working the late-night shift at Fish and Company restaurant on the Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Missouri, when a party of seven customers arrived off the dock for food and drinks, as reported by WAFB.

The incident occurred when Bertels refused to serve a drink to a woman in the group who did not have proper identification.

After a dispute over the ID, the group eventually ordered food, but there was a delay in the kitchen that night due to being busy, according to Bertels.

Feeling impatient, the group expressed their desire to leave due to the wait, so Bertels offered to pack their meals in to-go boxes before they departed.

Before they could settle their bill of approximately $150, surveillance footage captured the group heading back to their boat on the dock.

Shortly after, Bertels was seen running down the dock after the group.

She claimed that one of the members grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the lake as she tried to inform them about the bill while the boat was leaving.

“When I hit the water, they started laughing and cheering, which was really hurtful,” Bertels told the outlet.

“I was crying and bawling in the water, not knowing what to do.”

After about 10 minutes, the young waitress managed to pull herself onto a swim platform of a docked boat following the alleged assault, according to the outlet.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the incident and is still seeking information on the individuals involved.

The case is currently being investigated as a misdemeanor assault, with the suspects believed to be from out of state.

On Tuesday, authorities released an image of a man believed to be part of the group, who came forward and is cooperating with law enforcement.

The sheriff’s office stated that they do not consider him a suspect in the case.

Fish and Company General Manager Sean Dolven mentioned that he has implemented changes in how his staff deals with similar situations to ensure the safety of his employees.

“We now have a protocol in place where if you need to confront someone, inform someone and have a companion with you,” Dolven told the outlet.

“This way, there is someone present to witness what’s happening because cameras may not capture everything.”