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Verbal Altercation At Homestead Dairy Queen Turns Physical

HOMESTEAD (CBSMiami) - Four people were arrested after they were reportedly involved in an altercation inside of a Homestead Dairy Queen on Tuesday afternoon.

The fight began when the mother of an employee, Alicia Hodge, 42, confronted the business' manager, Belinda Ahwach, 52, because Hodge's daughter had called her saying Ahwach was mistreating her, according to police.

According to a police report, Ahwach claimed that she and Hodge's daughter had been in an argument after Achwach asked her to take a break.

Dairy Queen Assault Mugs
Alicia Hodge (Left) and Belinda Ahwach (Right). (Courtesy of Homestead Police)

Cameras captured the verbal altercation between Hodge and Ahwach inside of the restaurant located in the 3300 block of NE 8 St. Police said the footage shows Hodge striking Ahwach while at the register.

The report says Hodge used her finger to push the manager's head.

Hodge and her daughter then went outside the restaurant to wait for the police to arrive.

Surveillance video then shows Ahwach grabbing a pot from the restaurant kitchen and filling it with hot oil, according to new testimony in court on Thursday.

Police said Ahwach went outside and threw the hot oil towards the employee, who suffered minor burns. Surveillance tape also shows another brawl outside the Dairy Queen.

The employee and another family member attacked Ahwach, according to police.

Ahwach is seen crawling back into the business while still being attacked.

That confrontation is vividly captured on the surveillance tape and from it appears that the manager and others could have easily been seriously injured.

After investigating the incident, Homestead Police arrested all four individuals involved.

The employee and the family member were identified as juveniles by police.

In bond court, Hodge, her daughter (employee) and the family member have all been charged with simple battery.

Ahwach was charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A Dairy Queen Manager told CBS4'S Peter D'Oench that Ahwach and the employe who was arrested have been fired.

Bond for Ahwach was set at $12,500 and she was ordered to stay away from Hodge and the two juveniles. We also learned that Ahwach had been arrested in 2015 for battery in Monroe County and was convicted.

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