Tucker salon owner claims client bit her during violent fight caught on camera

TUCKER, Ga. - Surveillance video captured a violent altercation outside a DeKalb County hair salon. In an exclusive interview with FOX 5, the owner of the salon claims she was bitten by an angry client during a dispute over a missed appointment.

"My staff they want me to lock the doors now…all over $32," Shatoyia Crawford said.

As a hair stylist with more than 15 years of experience, Crawford tells FOX 5 she has dealt with her fair share of unhappy customers, but none of those issues ever escalated to a full out brawl as seen on surveillance video from Nov. 19 at You Are You Natural Hair Salon in Tucker.

"I’ve had people who aren’t necessarily happy about the service or maybe a cancelation fee…never (anything) to this magnitude of actually have somebody put their hands physically on me," she stated.

Crawford says the woman had booked an appointment for her sons the week prior but canceled—which usually incurs a late cancelation fee.

She tells FOX 5 because the client left a voicemail to re-book within days, they waived that fee until that day came and the woman called to say she was never contacted to confirm the new time.

"I told her, listen… like I get all that. I said we didn’t charge you the first time but unfortunately, if you can’t make your appointment today, we’re gonna have to charge you."

Crawford tells FOX 5 that within an hour of that tense phone call, the woman showed up at the shop.

"I said you done called me out my name…it’s just not safe to have you here," she recalled. "She storms in here taking off her stuff, she’s getting loud."

Video shows the moments after the woman walked outside and approaches a man cleaning the windows in an attempt to take his window wiper. From there, Crawford comes out and the fight ensues.

"She wouldn’t let me go and eventually she bit me on my face resulting in 10 stitches and me having to go to the hospital," the salon owner recalled.

DeKalb County police responded but say no one was charged because the woman claimed self-defense.

FOX 5reached out to the woman by phone. She declined to comment.

"I think people are just kind of getting out of control with how they handle disputes...it’s just not worth it," Crawford added.

That woman has not been charged by police. Crawford says she has since gotten a criminal trespassing order against the woman and submitted a warrant application with DeKalb County Magistrate Court. A court date has been set for Feb. 10.