Viral TikTok Leads to Arrest: Woman Destroys Greek Flags at New Jersey Restaurant!
A popular TikTok user, Amber Matthews, known by her handle “Ambamelia,” has been arrested after an incident involving the destruction of Greek flags at a New Jersey restaurant. Matthews, who believed the flags were Israeli, shared the footage on her TikTok account on October 15, resulting in widespread attention and her subsequent arrest.
The incident took place in March at Efi’s Gyro, a local restaurant in Montclair, New Jersey. According to the Montclair Police Department, Matthews was charged with bias intimidation and property damage following the event.
The 23-year-old influencer, who is known for her social media presence, filmed herself tearing down a string of decorative flags outside the restaurant, seemingly in protest of the Israeli government’s actions. However, she mistakenly targeted Greek flags, believing they represented Israel.
In the video captioned “The time I mistakenly thought the flag for Greek was for Israel and took the restaurant’s flag down OMG,” Matthews is seen ripping the flags from their display. This act, which appeared to be a pro-Palestinian gesture, led to widespread backlash and eventual legal consequences.
Efi Mihalis, the owner of the restaurant, reported the incident to the police shortly after it occurred. She described how Matthews entered her establishment, destroying flags and decorative lights while allegedly shouting, “They’re killing the children.”
The disruption left the staff startled. Mihalis emphasized that the incident was neither staged nor a coordinated social media stunt, telling The New York Post, “This was not planned nor calculated. The young woman destroyed my property.”
The Montclair Police Department opened an investigation into the matter in March after Mihalis reported the vandalism. Law enforcement, including the bias incident investigator, reviewed security footage from the restaurant. As the investigation progressed, both the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office were notified of the case.
No significant leads surfaced until Matthews posted the video on TikTok, effectively identifying herself as the perpetrator. The video quickly went viral, garnering millions of views and prompting further outrage online. Matthews’ post led authorities to press charges of bias intimidation on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Montclair Police Department.
In a statement to the press, Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti expressed the department’s commitment to addressing such incidents.
“Montclair is a community that strives to treat all individuals with dignity and respect. I hope this investigation sends a clear message that our agency will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions,” Conforti said.
Matthews has yet to publicly respond to the charges. Her video, though initially popular, has drawn heavy criticism from viewers who pointed out the mistake and questioned her actions.
As the investigation continues, the restaurant’s owner hopes for swift legal resolution, while Montclair police have reiterated their dedication to protecting the community from further acts of bias and intimidation.