An Ohio woman, 21-year-old Stevi J. Creech, was recently arrested following an alleged assault on an Arby’s employee with a rock. The incident left the employee in a state of distress, bleeding from the face. Creech was charged with one count of felonious assault resulting in serious harm, according to official records.
Gerrin Rankin, a 26-year-old man, was also taken into custody in connection with the incident. Rankin is accused of aiding Creech in the assault and has been charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal menacing.
The incident occurred on September 11, when officers from the Kettering Police Department were patrolling the area around Forrer Boulevard and Smithville Road. An Arby’s employee flagged down the officers in front of the restaurant, which is located on the 2300 block of Smithville Road.
Upon arrival, the officers found the female employee in a state of panic, screaming and bleeding from her face. A witness at the scene informed the investigators that Creech and Rankin had rushed into the restaurant from the drive-thru area, assaulted the employee, and then fled on foot. The witness also noted that Creech seemed to be holding something in her hand as she entered the restaurant.
Surveillance footage from inside the Arby’s confirmed the witness’s account. The video showed Creech entering the restaurant holding an object in her right hand, which a police report later identified as a large rock. Rankin was seen entering the restaurant a few seconds after Creech.
While the actual assault was not captured on camera, the footage showed Creech and Rankin exiting the restaurant less than two minutes after entering. Shortly after, the victim appeared on camera, holding her face.
The witness present during the incident told police he had intended to intervene but was stopped by Rankin, who gestured towards his waistband and ordered the witness to back off. The witness interpreted this as a sign that Rankin was armed, possibly with a gun, and decided not to intervene.
The victim told police in an interview that she and Creech had been together the previous night. Creech had accused her of stealing a roach, a term used to refer to the leftover tip of a blunt or joint.
Following the incident, police located and arrested Creech and Rankin a short distance away from the restaurant. The AES Restaurant Group, which operates the Arby’s location, released a statement saying they prioritize team member safety and are fully cooperating with authorities. The assaulted employee has received medical care and has since returned to work.
Creech is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail with a bond set at $25,000. She is due to appear in court on September 22. As of Thursday morning, Rankin was no longer in custody.