Moviegoer using phone during film pepper-sprayed in LA, police say

California man charged with misdemeanor battery in Burbank over incident sending three patrons to hospital

A 34-year-old man from California has been arrested after allegedly pepper-spraying a person at a movie theater who was using his cellphone during the film, according to authorities.

Police arrested Matthew Ware on 15 September after purportedly pepper spraying a patron at the AMC Burbank 16 who was using his cellphone, while two other moviegoers nearby also experienced irritation from the pepper spray, according to the Burbank police department. All three people were treated at a local hospital.