Cops: His weapon was coffee

A52-YEAR-OLD MAN who allegedly hurled a scalding hot cup of coffee at a doughnut-shop employee and fled in a tan Cadillac — which matched his suit — has been identified by police as David Timbers of Mantua.

Timbers got in an argument with a female employee at Fresh Donuts on Lancaster Avenue near 39th Tuesday about 11 a.m. about whether he had paid for a sandwich, police said.

The cashier told police that she repeatedly told Timbers that he never paid her, and he reached into his pants pocket and slapped a few bills onto the counter. As she placed a cup of coffee onto the counter, he snatched it out of her hand and threw it back, severely burning her, police said. He then allegedly cursed at her and onlookers, then exited the store with another man.

The incident was recorded on the shop's surveillance camera and police posted it online Thursday. The Southwest Detective Division was immediately flooded with tips from the public about the suspect in the childish assault.

"It's a senseless act," said Lt. John Walker. "I mean, he's 52 years old. He should know better than that."

Timbers, of Haverford Avenue near 37th Street, was not home when cops stopped by Friday, and was labeled a fugitive, police said.

They described him as a black man who is about 6 feet 1 and 200 pounds. He was wearing a tan suit and tie, tan shoes, sunglasses and a gold watch. A man with him was wearing a green baseball cap and a tan suit jacket, police said. They fled in a tan or gold Cadillac, police said.

Timbers will likely face aggravated-assault charges among other offenses. Tipsters are asked to call the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183 or the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). n

Contact Phillip Lucas at 215-854-5914, lucasp@phillynews.com, or follow @UnPhiltered on Twitter.