A Taco Bell employee in Memphis, Tennessee, is facing criminal charges after police say she threw boiling water on a co-worker during an argument at the restaurant.
According to Action News 5, 19-year-old Makayla Henderson was arrested following the July 18 incident. The victim told investigators the altercation happened while the two were at work.
Henderson, however, told the outlet that the male co-worker was not scheduled to work that day and had been hanging around the restaurant since earlier that morning. She also alleged that he had a history of harassing her.
Employee Claims Co-Worker Harassed Her Before Incident
Henderson said the co-worker repeatedly made comments that made her uncomfortable and ignored her requests to give her personal space.
“He kept getting mad that day… he kept just saying a whole bunch of inappropriate things that I did not like. He kept coming into my personal space; I kept telling him, ‘Can you get back?’” she told Action News 5.
According to Henderson, the situation escalated when the co-worker allegedly took her work iPad and refused to return it.
“Before you know it, once I blanked out, I was just pouring water on him,” she said.
The co-worker gave investigators a different account, claiming the two had been “horseplaying” before Henderson allegedly threatened to burn him. He said she then walked to the back of the restaurant, retrieved a pot of boiling water, and threw it on him before leaving the restaurant.
Victim Treated for Burns as Case Moves Forward
The co-worker was transported to a burn unit, where he was treated for second-degree burns to his leg and stomach.
Henderson was charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident. In addition to the criminal charge, she was ordered to complete anger management classes.
Authorities have not announced whether any additional charges will be filed. The allegations made by both Henderson and her co-worker may be addressed as the case proceeds through the court system.