A former Arby’s manager in Oklahoma has been charged with felony poisoning after investigators said restaurant surveillance footage appeared to show her spitting into a customer’s meal. The customer has also filed a lawsuit alleging the incident caused her to contract herpes.
Amanda Hendricks, who previously managed an Arby’s location in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, is accused of felony poisoning with intent to injure in connection with a March incident involving customer Jennica Church, according to court documents referenced by local news outlets.
“I love Arby’s — not anymore,” Jennica Church told outlet KJRH.
An affidavit cited by local media states that Broken Bow police reviewed surveillance footage from the restaurant and determined Hendricks allegedly spit into sandwiches made for Church. In a separate civil complaint, Church claims Hendricks was in the midst of an active herpes outbreak at the time and that she later tested positive for HSV-1 after consuming the food.
Amanda Hendricks faces a felony poisoning with intent to injure charge following a police investigation into claims that food served to an Oklahoma Arby’s customer was contaminated. (McCurtain County Jail)
Church told KJRH she had gone to the restaurant in March after finishing a late shift bartending and became concerned when her order seemed to take unusually long.
“It was taking a little bit of time,” Church told the station. “I thought they were mad at me because it was about to close.”
A former Oklahoma Arby’s manager was charged with felony poisoning after police said surveillance video allegedly showed her spitting into a customer’s food. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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According to KJRH, Church said she had a minor history with Hendricks but nothing significant.
On the night of the alleged incident, Church said she ate one sandwich while pulling out of the Arby’s parking lot and brought the remaining food home, where it was shared with her husband and a relative receiving hospice care.
According to the lawsuit, Church later developed a lesion on her lip and eventually tested positive for HSV-1.
The customer, Jennica Church, filed a lawsuit claiming the contaminated meal later led to an HSV-1 infection and alleging the worker had visible symptoms while on shift. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Local police launched an investigation into the incident after receiving information from another Arby’s employee who alleged a co-worker had spat into a customer’s order, according to court records cited by local media.
Investigators obtained surveillance video from the restaurant and concluded it showed Hendricks spitting into food being prepared for Church, according to an affidavit cited by KJRH and KXII. Police say the surveillance appeared to show Hendricks lowering her head toward sandwich ingredients before saliva fell onto the food.
Hendricks was later charged with felony poisoning with intent to injure. She is being held in McCurtain County Jail, according to Oklahoma outlet KXII.
Church’s lawsuit alleges Hendricks knowingly worked while experiencing an active herpes outbreak and claims Arby’s restaurant operators allowed her to remain working despite having visible symptoms.
Arby’s did not immediately respond to News Agency’s request for comment.
