Washington state is known for its coffee culture, but one young barista had a terrifying reminder that even behind a drive-thru window, you’re not always safe. At Ladybug Bikini Barista in Lakewood, a normal shift nearly turned into a nightmare when a 19-year-old customer allegedly tried to drag her out of the window in full view of surveillance cameras.
The disturbing incident unfolded after the Washington barista, dressed in the signature bikini-style uniform that these kinds of cafes are famous for, handed over a drink to customer Ezekiel Guerrero of Tacoma. Instead of driving away like any normal person, Guerrero allegedly grabbed her hand and yanked her forward with shocking aggression. Video shows the young woman bracing herself against the window, her face slamming against the glass as she tried desperately to stay inside.
The attack was forceful enough to rip her shirt. Guerrero, who half-climbed out of his car, held tight to her wrist as she fought to free herself. The struggle only ended when the barista managed to wrench herself back behind the window and slam it shut. She was left with painful red marks on her wrist, bicep, and shoulder, but thankfully, she escaped.
Police in Washington didn’t need long to track Guerrero down. Investigators used his credit card receipt from the transaction to identify him, and within days, he was in custody. But his explanation for the attempted kidnapping was as bizarre as the act itself.
Washington Man Grabs Bikini Barista In Scary Kidnapping Attempt
“When she said ‘help,’ I let go,” Guerrero reportedly told officers, according to KIRO 7. “I didn’t escalate nothing.” He went on to insist it was a “mistake,” blaming a fight with his ex-girlfriend, along with being drunk or high, for what he did. “It was just a bad night for me. I’m sorry… I don’t even know why I even showed up there, bro. Like, I was drunk, I was upset.”
That excuse hasn’t exactly sat well with the victim, or with the public. Guerrero was charged with attempted kidnapping but was later released on bail after pleading not guilty. For the barista, that outcome was deeply unsettling.
“I’m honestly just really upset that since he’s young and it’s his first offense that he got no bail, or house arrest,” she told Fox 13 Seattle. “If he’s committing violent acts like this at the ripe age of 19 years old, I’m not too confident that he won’t do that again to someone else who might end up less fortunate than I did.”
Her point is hard to argue with. Washington has a reputation for quirky coffee spots, especially drive-thru bikini barista stands that blend caffeine with campy fun. But incidents like this highlight the darker reality: these women are often working alone, late hours, and in revealing uniforms that can attract the wrong kind of attention. What’s supposed to be lighthearted novelty can put workers at risk when predatory behavior goes unchecked.
More Security Needed?
This case has stirred up conversations about worker safety, especially in places where the job involves more exposure than your average café gig. Should bikini barista huts have more security? Panic buttons? Double windows? The debate is buzzing online almost as much as the shocking surveillance clip itself.
“Pretty scary that he’s blaming his actions on drinking. Who’s the next victim?” one person commented. “These baristas need more than cameras for protection. Ladies! Arm yourselves. Protect yourselves,” another wrote. “Wrong way to pick up a woman,” a third comment read. “Any excuse to blame the woman, amirite?” a fourth person chimed in.
For now, one young Washington woman is just grateful she fought her way out of Guerrero’s grip. But as she pointed out, others might not be as lucky if someone like him gets another chance.
Hunter Spears 
Kenna Raye 
