Two people have been taken into custody after an alleged assault at a local Cracker Barrel left a server injured and several employees and customers affected by pepper spray.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent to the restaurant at 460 Park West Drive about 12:36 p.m. on Sunday.
When they arrived, deputies heard that a 22-year-old waitress had been pepper-sprayed and punched many times by two women.
The sheriff’s office stated that both suspects were booked into the Columbia County Detention Centre Monday night:
- Jania Bush, 21, of Augusta, who deputies say used the pepper spray. She is wanted on charges of battery and reckless conduct.
- Zabrianna McCladdie, 19, of Hephzibah, who deputies say punched the victim. She is wanted on a charge of simple battery.
According to the event report, Bush and McCladdie entered the establishment and confronted the victim in the dining area, which was crowded with customers.
Bush then allegedly began pepper spraying the victim’s face, while McCladdie began punching her.
Deputies say employees then grabbed the victim and transported her to the kitchen to be cleaned up, where they got pollutants in their eyes and clothes.
According to the incident report, Bush and McCladdie then left the store and rushed towards the Parker’s Kitchen parking lot, probably in a black passenger car.
According to the incident report, Gold Cross EMS evaluated the victim, but she declined to be transported to the hospital.
Officials said the other Cracker Barrel employees who attempted to break up the brawl and were directly exposed to the pepper spray were treated on the site by Columbia County Fire Rescue and Gold Cross EMS.
The lingering pepper spray in the air caused slight annoyance and disturbance for some customers in the dining area, but the restaurant was able to resume normal operations within a short period of time, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said they spoke with Bush over the phone, and she acknowledged pepper spraying the victim’s face and recalling McCladdie punching the victim in the face.
Bush also alleged the victim accosted her the previous evening at her place of employment at a nightclub in Richmond County, where the victim and another person assaulted her, according to authorities.
Leave a Reply