Thailand Cafe waitress stabs co-worker

An investigation involving a waitress at a Mount Airy restaurant stabbing a co-worker has led to a ruling that she was acting in self-defense, a police official says.

The incident occurred late Sunday afternoon at Thailand Cafe, located on West Independence Boulevard in the Roses shopping center.

It involved Timothy Scott Brown, reportedly a dishwasher at the restaurant, being stabbed in the chest by Lesley Ponce Hernandez.

Brown, 52, a resident of Hadley Street, was transported to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem for treatment of upper-body injuries, described as severe lacerations.

Despite the case being classified as an assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury, in Mount Airy Police Department records, no charges will be issued against Hernandez, according to Police Chief Dale Watson.

“After consulting with the (Surry County) District Attorney’s Office, the incident was deemed self-defense,” Watson explained Wednesday.

“The incident was between a male and female employee of Thai Cafe, not domestic,” the police chief added.

Based on firsthand accounts from the scene Sunday, Brown allegedly had been making unwelcome remarks to waitresses at Thailand Cafe, which eventually led to Hernandez being singled out for attention.

This sparked a verbal and physical altercation between the two in the kitchen, during which Brown — who is said to be about 6 feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds — was wielding a mop handle, sources say.

He also allegedly kicked Hernandez in the leg and stomach while additionally threatening to damage her car, with the woman subsequently stabbing Brown with a knife.

Although this occurred in the kitchen, sources say shocked customers and other employees in the dining area were able to hear what was happening.

Co-workers had tried unsuccessfully to convince the restaurant manager to send Brown home after his encounters with waitresses began.

Since the incident, both Brown and Hernandez reportedly were fired.

Brown is said to have possibly had surgery and is expected to recover from his injuries.