WACO, Texas (KWTX) — A former employee of Waco’s historic Hotel 1928 is facing felony charges after police say she entered a restricted staff area and threatened a worker with a butcher knife on Wednesday afternoon.
Sarah Scranton, 26, was arrested by Waco police and charged with second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by KWTX, officers responded to a civil disturbance call at the hotel located at 701 Washington Avenue.
The hotel’s manager reported that Scranton—an ex-employee who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or pills—had made her way into a back employee area and pulled a knife from her purse.
A hotel staff member told police he observed Scranton near the back liquor storage area.
Sarah Scranton, 26, was arrested by Waco Police and charged with second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.(KWTX GRAPHIC)
Scranton allegedly called him over before brandishing a black and silver butcher knife in a “stabbing-type manner,” leaving the employee in fear for his life.
As the employee was walking away from Scranton, she told him she always carries a knife in her purse because she is a “pretty white female and needs to protect herself,” police wrote in the affidavit.
Scranton fled the scene before police arrived, but officers tracked her to an apartment unit in the 600 block of North 4th Street.
During questioning, Scranton admitted to brandishing the weapon but claimed she was just “playing” because she is Irish, telling officers, “it’s not my fault he (the hotel employee) was offended.”
Scranton, according to the affidavit, told police officers she left work at Schmaltz, went to a liquor store near 7th Street and Franklin and then went to Hotel 1928, where she had two glasses of wine.
She also told police she carries the butcher knife for protection because “she is a pretty white female.”
Scranton was booked into the McLennan County Jail and later released on bond.
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