Georgia Waitress Who Took Down Handsy Customer: 'I Didn't Even Know I Could Do That'

Emelia Holden spoke to Inside Edition exclusively about her bold retaliation against an inappropriate customer.

A Georgia waitress who put an unruly customer into a headlock after he groped her said she "didn't give it much thought" before she slamming him into the ground.

Emelia Holden has been praised on social media for what she did inside the Savannah, Georgia, pizzeria on June 30. 

"Dude got what he deserved,” read one comment. 

"She is my new hero!" was another. 

The 21-year-old college student spoke to Inside Edition about the ordeal. 

"I honestly didn’t even give it much thought," Holden told Inside Edition. "I just did it. I didn’t even know I could do that. I don’t care who you are. You have no right to disrespect me." 

Not only did Holden take the guy down, she scolded him in front of the whole restaurant before telling her co-workers to call the cops.

The accused groper has been identified as 31-year-old Ryan Cherwinski. He ended up spending two nights in jail and faces charges of sexual battery.

"To see them put him in handcuffs, it was nice," Holden said.

It is believed Cherwinski was having dinner with his wife when the groping incident occurred.

Even in the days of the #MeToo movement, this type of boorish behavior happens way too often, and waitresses are particularly vulnerable.

Another man could face up to a year in prison after slapping a waitress's backside at an upstate New York Denny’s two months ago.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of forcible touching. The waitress in that case, 23-year-old Jayme Adair, told Inside Edition she couldn't believe what happened.

"I was in shock, you know," Adair said. "I didn't know how to react. I just felt super uncomfortable."

Holden, an avid cat lover, is raising funds for a local animal shelter on GoFundMe.

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