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VIENNA -- Police on Monday arrested three people accused of shouting at and spitting on a Chick-fil-A employee two-and-a-half weeks ago.
As they were fleeing, one of the individuals claimed they had the novel coronavirus.
According to a release from the Vienna Police Department and Wood County Magistrate Court records, Mariah Christy Young, 26, and Shomari Hasani Kerel Humphrey, 35, both of 1337 Covert St., Parkersburg, were charged with battery out of the incident. Byan April Elzy, 33, of the same address, was charged with assault.
The confrontation took place around 6:43 p.m. April 16, at Chick-fil-A, 210 Grand Central Ave., Vienna, according to criminal complaints.
There was a "commotion" around the black Mercedes-Benz being used by the suspects, Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer said. It's not clear what caused that, but a Chick-fil-A employee called 911, the chief said.
That apparently angered the suspects, who allegedly approached the employee, screaming profanities, the release says. Humphrey and Young spat in the employee's face, while Elzy got very close to his face, the complaints say.
As they were fleeing the scene, Young allegedly shouted, "We have corona," the release says. When interviewed by police, Young admitted saying something about the coronavirus, but said she could not remember what she specifically said.
Police found no evidence any of the subjects actually had the virus, Pifer said.
All three suspects were arraigned Monday in Magistrate Court and released on $2,000 personal recognizance bonds.