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Pans thrown, firearm drawn, owner briefly detained
A restauranteur questioned by police, handcuffed and then quickly released after he pulled a gun on a former employee threatening violence remains upset over his treatment by authorities.
Nexhdet “Nexhi” Thaqi, 52, owner of Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, 103 N. Main St., on April 25 was confronted by an employee of three weeks after refusing to pay him and his partner without proper documentation or Social Security information, he said.
What started with tossed pans in the kitchen ended with Thaqi in handcuffs. Thaqi said he acted in self-defense.
According to the businessman, officers told him that he faced arrest for a
“[Police] saw me try to protect myself in my kitchen and still [detain] me.
This is how they treat me.”
— Nexhdet “Nexhi” Thaqi, Luigi’s Italian Restaurant owner terroristic threat, and they confiscated his gun, wallet, keys and $200 in cash.
“First time in my life, they [officers] put handcuff, ‘terrorist threat’ on my own property, in my kitchen,” he said this week, still angry over the episode.
Elgin Police Department Commander Aaron Crim said, “During the investigation an adult male was detained but subsequently released pending investigation.”
No charges have been filed in the case, Crim added.
The police are still holding Thaqi’s confiscated f irearm as evidence, which is a routine move in such circumstances when a weapon is brandished.
“I don’t have a gun, if something [else] happens, credit go to this police here,” Thaqi said.
He has been operating his business in Elgin for five years and has called upon city services several times before, he said.
“ Business is ver y good. Experience with city, with police, with the court – I have to say zero,” Thaqi said.
The genesis of the case began, Thaqi said, when he hired two new employees simultaneously March 30 to help with dinner rushes and opening the restaurant for lunch. He started them the following day in the “family business,” according to Thaqi.
“If you are here, you are a part of my family,” Thaqi said.
The pair only worked four shifts before telling Thaqi April 20 they had found new jobs and wanted payment for their time at the restaurant, he said.
The owner said when he checked their employee documents, he saw they did not provide Social Security information.
Text messages show the former employees said they didn’t wish to share their Social Security details, requesting only to be paid in cash or by personal check. When Thaqi refused, he said the pair threatened to call law enforcement.
“I sent [the person] the police phone number and said, ‘Don’t waste your time searching, here you go,’” Thaqi added.
He said he wanted to pay the two, but the process had to be legitimate.
“I can’t write the check, I have to claim it, for legal reasons,” Thaqi said. “You can ask all my employees, for 20 years, if any left without pay.”
One of the pair returned to the restaurant about 5:40 p.m. April 25, storming into the kitchen and approaching Thaqi from behind, camera footage shows. He then cursed at Thaqi in Spanish and demanded payment, according to Thaqi, who told the man no and demanded he leave.
Footage then shows the man throwing pans full of pasta across the kitchen.
“Of course, I think he’s going to hurt me, you don’t go to someone and ask for money without protection or something,” Thaqi said.
Fearing the employee had a weapon or would reach for a nearby kitchen knife, Thaqi grabbed a handgun he kept on site and aimed at the worker, demanding he leave. The employee left the building but remained outside the front door, pacing back and forth, at which point Thaqi immediately called the Police Department.
The gun is registered and legal, according to the owner.
“Customers see. I can’t hurt somebody in my business, I was just protecting,” Thaqi added.
Officers arrived and began questioning Thaqi, who said he was cooperating while still cooking for restaurant guests. He identified the individual, provided the officers with camera footage and informed them his firearm was now in his vehicle, according to Thaqi.
Additional officers then arrived, asking Thaqi to speak with them in the restaurant office. The owner requested that he finish the meals he was cooking and head over to the nearby police station. According to Thaqi, the officers instead requested he turn around with his hands behind his back.
“I thought they were joking, I was trying to be friendly,” Thaqi added.
Officers asked to escort Thaqi out the back door, but he declined, demanding they go through the front, according to the restaurateur.
Within five minutes officers released Thaqi from a patrol cruiser and said he was free to go.
“[Police] saw me try to protect myself in my kitchen and still [detain] me. This is how they treat me,” the businessman said.
Thaqi said he didn’t allow officers back into the eatery.
The restauranteur said afterwards he covered the cost of his customers’ meals and sent them home with a free bottle of wine. He also welcomed them to return in a month for an additional free meal.
