Spit in food? McCurtain Co. Arby’s employee accused of giving herpes to customer
Jun 19, 2026
Many have heard claims of retaliatory restaurant workers spitting in customers food, and hope its just a gross, urban legend.But in McCurtain County, a former Arbys manager is charged with felony poisoningaccused of spitting in
a womans food and, as a result, giving her herpes.WATCH: Spit in food? McCurtain Co. Arbys employee accused of giving herpes to customer: Spit in food? McCurtain Co. Arbys employee accused of giving herpes to customerI love Arbysnot anymore, said Jennica Church.After a long night of bartending, Church stopped at an Arbys in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.It was taking a little bit of time, Church recalled. I thought they were mad at me because it was about to close.Church said she had a little history with Amanda Hendricks, the manager at the time, but nothing major. She went home, ate, and shared sandwiches with her father-in-law and grandmother-in-law.Church lives in a home with her husband, kids, and paternal grandparents. After that night, Churchs mouth flared up, and that had never happened.A doctor later diagnosed her with herpes.Because Broken Bow is a small town, word travels fast. Church says Hendrix had been bragging about spitting in Churchs sandwiches, and Churchs daughter heard about it.According to the affidavit, Broken Bow police officers say they pulled cameras from Arbys and saw Hendricks spit in the food. Hendricks is charged with felony poisoning with intent to injure.A warrant has been issued for her arrest.Church and her family filed a lawsuit against Hendricks, Arbys and their affiliated restaurant groups claiming the incident has caused extreme anxiety, emotional distress and fear of infection. Church fears it will impact her work in the service industry.If I go out to each and see someone with a big thing on their face, I dont want them serving me food, she said.The fallout is tough for Churchs mother-in-law, Patricia Dollarhite, to discuss.My son was sitting at my table, eating breakfast and he wanted a kiss, and he could not get one, so you bet Im angry, said Dollarhite. I see what its doing to my grandchildren, my son, my husband. I dont want to kiss my husband. He ate the food! Because he hasnt had an outbreak, doesnt mean he doesnt have it.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 Arbys in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Maybe its Flynn Restaurant Group and all 300 stores they own. I dont know, but we are going to find out.We reached out to Arbys for comment and have not heard back yet.Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere -- 2 News Oklahoma on your schedule | Download on your TV, watch for free. How to watch on your streaming device Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Watch LIVE 24/7 on YouTube
...read more
read less