Three men allegedly tried to pull a McDonald's employee through a drive-thru window and then jumped through the window and attacked him, according to charges filed recently.

The men are members of the East Side Boys and Ham Crazy gangs, according to charges. The employee who was attacked at the St. Paul McDonald's had tried to start a relationship with the ex-girlfriend of another alleged Ham Crazy gang member. The employee told police that the suspects had been harassing him at work for a month.

The Ham Crazy gang is an affiliate of the East Side Boys. Both gangs are known for violent attacks and have been tied to several murders of teenagers and young adults in St. Paul.

Evan K. McMillan, 18, of St. Paul, was charged Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court with aiding and abetting first degree burglary while committing assault, and aiding and abetting crime committed for the benefit of a gang. Willie C. Lassiter, 18, of St. Paul, was charged with identical counts.

Keith L. Garrett Jr., 20, was charged Thursday with aiding and abetting first-degree burglary while committing assault, and crime committed for the benefit of a gang. He was charged via arrest warrant and is not in custody. He has no known address.

According to the complaints: The men pulled up to the McDonald's at 1388 E. Maryland Ave. about 3:23 a.m. on July 24. They argued with a 24-year-old employee at the first drive-thru window. The employee told police that the men drove up to the second drive-thru, spat at him and tried to drag him out the window. He punched and broke their car window.

The men pulled to the side and stopped. They got out of their vehicle, opened the drive-thru window and jumped in, attacking the employee and causing him minor injuries, the charges said.

Lassiter was arrested on July 28. He told police that Garrett opened the window and entered, with McMillan on his heels. Garrett and McMillan fought with the employee, Lassiter told police. Lassiter said he entered the window after he saw a different employee hitting his friend with a pole. Lassiter denied attacking anyone, but admitted to throwing a pot of coffee, the charges said. Lassiter didn't think anyone was harmed by the coffee pot.

McMillan was later arrested and told police that the group went to McDonald's to buy food. He said that the employee was rude at the intercom, and that the two argued. The employee punched the car window twice, McMillan told police. McMillan, who was driving, told police that he, Lassiter and Garrett jumped through the drive-thru window because the restaurant's doors are locked at 10 p.m., the complaint said.

McMillan said that once inside the fast food restaurant, he and Garrett attacked the employee they had tried to pull out the window, according to the charges. Lassiter jumped in the window to help Garrett when a different employee struck Garrett with a pole, McMillan allegedly told police.

One witness said there were four men in the car when it first pulled up. Two other witnesses said three men got out of the car and jumped through the drive-thru window.

BY CHAO XIONG

Twitter: @ChaoStrib