Kansas City Officer Says He Thought Olive Garden Employee Was Kidding With Comment — but She Wasn't

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TheBlaze/AP) -- The president of the Olive Garden restaurant chain has apologized to a Kansas City police officer after a restaurant employee asked him to leave because he was armed.

Officer Michael Holsworth says he was on duty and in uniform Sunday when the employee at the Olive Garden in Independence, Missouri, asked him to leave because guns aren't allowed in the restaurant.

Holsworth says he was there to celebrate his birthday with his family. He says he thought the employee was kidding, but she wasn't.

He posted about the incident on Sunday on Facebook -- and it quickly went viral.

Olive Garden spokesman Rich Jeffers told The Kansas City Star that Olive Garden president Dave George called to apologize to Holsworth later Sunday.

"It’s unacceptable, that’s what it is. Olive Garden welcomes members of law enforcement all the time in the restaurants. We love serving them. They serve our community. The least we can do is provide them a great meal," Jeffers said.

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