Hot Grease Lands Woman in Hot Water

ALACHUA ‒ Betty Ann Terry, 46, of Alachua, was arrested on Tuesday, June 14, after allegedly flinging hot grease at a fellow employee at Popeyes Restaurant in Alachua.

On June 9, Alachua Police Department officers responded to Popeyes about a dispute between two employees. During their verbal argument, Terry allegedly said she was going to throw hot grease on the victim, another female employee.

The store manager said he had attempted to stop her, but he backed away in fear of having hot grease thrown on him. Terry then allegedly grabbed a tool from the fryer that had hot grease on it and she threw the grease at the victim. Witnesses said that Terry threw grease at the victim approximately three times. The regional manager told police that the grease is set at 330 degrees.

The victim had burn marks on her left side and left arm and there was damage to the business that had to be cleaned up, along with losses from having to close the business early. Terry reportedly fled before police arrived, but she was located on June 14.

Terry has been charged with aggravated battery causing harm or disability and damage to property under $200. She is being held on $75,150 bond.

Terry was previously arrested on Sept. 5, 2021, after allegedly threatening her nephew with a knife. The charges were later dropped on the same day her lawyer filed a motion requesting a reduction in her bond. Authorities report she has served five state prison terms and was most recently released in 2019 after serving a seven-year sentence on a conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

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