Police say surveillance video showed the Oklahoma manager contaminating food served to a woman at the drive-thru.
BROKEN BOW, Okla. — An Arby’s manager was arrested after police said she spat into a customer’s roast beef sandwich near closing time, leading the woman and her family to claim she later contracted herpes.
The case involves Amanda Hendricks, a manager at an Arby’s restaurant in Broken Bow, and Jennica Church, a married mother from McCurtain County. Police said Hendricks was caught on surveillance video contaminating Church’s food before handing it out through the drive-thru. Hendricks has been charged with felony poisoning with intent to injure.
Church said she went to the restaurant after work and ordered four roast beef sandwiches for $10. She said the order took longer than expected and believed workers may have been upset because the restaurant was about to close. “I love Arby’s — not anymore,” Church told a local television station after the allegations became public.
Investigators said the video showed Hendricks handling meat from a slicer before leaning toward the sandwich and spitting into it. According to an arrest affidavit, Hendricks then continued preparing the rest of the order and sent the food to the drive-thru window. Church said she and Hendricks knew each other because Broken Bow is a small town, but she did not know of any conflict between them.
Church said she later developed a flare-up on her lip and went to a doctor, who diagnosed her with herpes. She said she contacted police after hearing that Hendricks had allegedly told people she spit in the sandwiches. Police then reviewed the restaurant’s camera footage and arrested Hendricks.
The allegations have also affected Church’s family. Church’s mother-in-law, Patricia Dollarhite, said other relatives ate some of the sandwiches. Dollarhite said the family has been left fearful and angry because of the possible health impact. Church said the incident has caused anxiety and emotional distress, especially because she works as a bartender and worries about how others may view her.
Church’s family has hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against Hendricks, Arby’s and affiliated restaurant groups. Arby’s had not responded publicly to requests for comment as of the latest report.
Hendricks faces a felony charge as the criminal case moves forward. The charge is an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.