Longhorn Steakhouse in Peachtree

City was evacuated briefly Saturday night while emergency officials investigated

several people complaining of respiratory problems.

A total of seven people were

treated with oxygen but EMS units did not transport anyone to the hospital

for further treatment, said Peachtree City Assistant Fire Chief Ed Eiswerth.

A restaurant employee said

there were 141 people either dining or waiting to be served when the building

was evacuated. The employee said the popular restaurant, one of the highest

grossing in the Longhorn chain, had to "comp" (give away) more

than $2,000 in interrupted meals.

Although the actual cause of

the problem may never be known, fire officials believe the pepper spray

may have been introduced into the environment, causing some to have problems

breathing, Eiswerth said.

"This might have been

a pepper spray release, but we're not 100 percent sure," Eiswerth

said.

That educated guess is drawn

from the symptoms and signs shown by the people at the restaurant who

were treated by medics, Eiswerth said.

The first crews responded to

the scene at 7:38 p.m. but after emergency officials treated the victims

and cleared the restaurant, the building was turned back over to restaurant

officials almost an hour later, Eiswerth said.

"The Longhorn management

was outstanding," in cooperating with emergency officials and making

sure the building was evacuated, Eiswerth added.

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