Incident at Lake of the Ozarks: Waitress Pulled into Lake by Dine-and-Dash Patrons

Incident at Lake of the Ozarks: Waitress Pulled into Lake by Dine-and-Dash Patrons

Authorities are investigating a dine-and-dash incident at the Fish & Co. restaurant in Camdenton, Missouri, where a waitress was pulled into the Lake of the Ozarks by patrons who left without paying their bill.

According to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the group left the restaurant on Friday without settling their bar tab. Security footage from NBC affiliate KYTV shows the patrons leaving and heading to a boat, with the waitress, Liahna Bertels, running after them. The camera does not capture the altercation, but the boat is seen departing the dock soon after.

Bertels reported that when she approached the group to ask for payment, they grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the lake. “I hit the water, and they started laughing and cheering, which really hurt,” Bertels said. “I was crying and bawling in the water, not knowing what to do.”

She managed to pull herself onto a swim platform on a nearby docked boat after about ten minutes. Bertels explained that one of the patrons, a young woman, had ordered a drink but was not served due to a lack of ID. The group became angry after waiting for food and decided to leave without paying their $150 bill.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office has released photos of two individuals they wish to speak with regarding the incident. They emphasized the close-knit nature of the Lake of the Ozarks community and encouraged public assistance in identifying those involved to ensure everyone’s safety.

In an update, the sheriff’s office announced that a man in one of the photos had come forward and is cooperating with the investigation, although he is not considered a suspect.

The investigation is ongoing, and the restaurant has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Camden County Sheriff's Office at 573-346-2243.