Alabama Arby’s manager allegedly threw hot grease on customer during drive-thru dispute

HUEYTOWN, Ala. (TCD) -- A 50-year-old fast food manager was arrested after allegedly throwing grease at a customer during an argument in the drive-thru line.

On April 23 at 3:15 p.m., Hueytown Police responded to a report of an altercation between a customer and employee at the Arby’s at River Square Plaza. Officers who arrived at the scene reportedly "determined that an employee threw hot grease on a customer in the drive-thru."

The victim, who remained unidentified, was transported to University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital for burn treatment.

In a follow-up statement, Hueytown Police said the manager, Shea Denise Peoples, was charged with first-degree assault. She was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on $30,000 bond. According to jail records, Peoples bonded out April 25.

In a press conference shown by WBRC-TV, Hueytown Police Chief Mike Yarbrough said he and investigators "really don’t know how it escalated."

He added, "We just know it was an argument of some sort that got out of hand. I would say for lack of a better word, she just snapped."

WVTM-TV reports the victim, who is in her 30s, suffered third-degree burns on 60% of her body. Peoples was reportedly immediately fired from Arby’s, and the fast food chain is cooperating with investigators, as well as conducting their own investigation.

An Arby’s spokesperson told WBRC in a statement, "The actions of the former employee in Hueytown, AL, were reprehensible. We immediately terminated the offender, and we are cooperating with the local authorities in their investigation. Our heart goes out to the guest, and we are working to help support their recovery."

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