An off-duty police officer and his wife were allegedly attacked outside a Waffle House in suburban Houston after a disagreement with a restaurant employee over a parking spot, according to a lawsuit reviewed by The Independent. The incident took place late at night on September 28, 2024, at Waffle House #1513 in Humble, a city about 20 miles northeast of downtown Houston. The lawsuit, filed on August 26 in Harris County, Texas, was brought by Joshua Kesler, a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and his wife, Randel Kesler. They claim they were assaulted by individuals linked to the restaurant after a dispute over parking. According to the lawsuit, Joshua Kesler parked his motorcycle next to a Jeep that the restaurant employee claimed was occupying two parking spaces. The employee allegedly confronted the couple in a hostile and threatening manner, accusing them of improper parking. The employee became increasingly agitated and made threatening statements toward the couple. She then approached Randel Kesler in an intimidating way, prompting Joshua Kesler to step between them to protect his wife. As the couple tried to leave, four men arrived in a vehicle and physically separated them. One of the attackers struck Joshua Kesler in the face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground. The assault continued with multiple punches and kicks while he was on the ground, resulting in a fractured left orbital bone and abrasions to his knee and elbow. His wife was also struck in the head, causing her to briefly lose consciousness. She was taken by emergency medical services to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fractured collarbone, a small facial cut requiring adhesive treatment, a head contusion, and bruises to her shoulder and knee. The lawsuit claims the Waffle House employee directed the assault, making her and the restaurant vicariously liable for the injuries suffered by the Keslers. The employee, who is listed as a defendant in the civil case but has not been charged with a crime, argues that the force used against the couple was justified as self-defense. She also claimed that Joshua Kesler provoked and escalated the confrontation, denying any responsibility for the alleged attackers. Waffle House, for its part, denied any responsibility for the injuries and asked to be dropped from the case. The Keslers are seeking compensation for punitive damages, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical impairment, disfigurement, medical expenses, as well as attorney fees and court costs. A Waffle House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the latest lawsuit and incident. A message sent to the Waffle House employee’s attorney also went unanswered.