We Have The Herpes: Arby's worker accused of infecting customer by spitting in food

A manager at the Arbys in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, spat in a customers food, say police, an act that allegedly resulted in the victim contracting oral herpes. The Smoking Gun reports that Amanda Hendricks, 38, was charged with adulterating food, assault and battery.

According to the police report, the victim called police three days after ordering at the restauran's drive-through on March 28, ordering a 4 for $10 sandwich deal. The report doesn't describe what happened next, but does say that police served a search warrant to obtain security footage from Arby's. The report states that after removing meat from the slicer, the employee is seen on video leaning "head down, and you can see the saliva leave her mouth and go into the sandwich."

On April 17th I was able to contact Amanda requesting an interview on April 18th and she agreed to meet at the Broken Bow Police Department. On April 18th Amanda called the Police Department and stated to me that she was unable to make the interview due to not having transportation, while speaking with Amanda she made the utterance that I have the footage, and she was not going to waste my time yes, she did it. At this time, I am requesting a warrant for 63-0S-1-1109 – Adulterated Food and 21-OS-644.B Assault and Battery.

Church subsequently developed symptoms including "painful lesions" and "cold sores," and tested positive for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. A civil lawsuit now follows, adds The Smoking Gun, targeting Arby's as well as Hendricks.

In Church's June 16 lawsuit against Hendricks and Arby's, she alleges that Hendricks was allowed to work in the restaurant despite having "an active herpes outbreak with visible lesions." As a result, Church now "lives in constant fear" of transmitting herpes to her husband and two minor children. (2 pages)

There's more from KJRH News.

The family attorney, Will Blocker, says he is floored that it appears to be acceptable behavior. He said no other employees who witnessed the spitting did anything to stop it.

"They let it go all the way out the door and my client now has a communicable disease," he said. "That has to be a culture deeper than Arby's in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Maybe it's Flynn Restaurant Group and all 300 stores they own. I don't know, but we are going to find out."

Previously:
• Saving a classic 1950s Arby's sign
• Church elder tried to pay for Grindr sex with Arby's card, say police
• Nihilist Arby's is the best thing on Twitter