Ocoee police arrest man accused of attacking spa employee with rope

Man sprayed chemical in woman's face, police say

OCOEE, Fla. – A man accused of attacking an Ocoee spa employee with chemical spray and a rope has been arrested, police said.

Eric Grenier was arrested on charges of aggravated assault in connection with the attack, which was reported at 8 p.m. Sunday at Herbal Spa & Massage at 203 N. Clarke Road.

According to Ocoee police, Grenier spoke with a woman about pricing at the spa and said, "I'll be right back."

Grenier entered the spa a second time a short time later and said he was ready, according to police.

As the employee turned to walk toward the back of the business, the man sprayed some form of chemical into her face, causing her to scream and run out the front door, police said.

The employee left the spa to the right, while Grenier exited toward the left, police said. The woman said she did not see the man anymore and returned to the spa, according to police.

The employee entered the spa and walked to the back of the business to wash her face, but Grenier re-entered the spa, approached her from behind and attempted to put some type of rope around her neck, police said.

Eric Grenier.

The employee screamed and was able to push the man off her as she ran out the back door of the spa, police said. The man chased the employee, but left in a dark-colored SUV as she ran toward a nearby Hungry Howie's asking for someone to call 911, authorities said.

The employee,David Frankle told News 6 that the woman looked "frantic, upset and in a lot of pain" after the incident and helped the woman by washing her face and staying with her until emergency medical services personnel arrived.

"She had some red markings around her neck where it looked like overspray of the chemicals or whatever he used on top of wrapping something around her neck until she got free," Frankle said.

News 6 also spoke with a woman who says Grenier stole her wheelchair ramps in June. She hopes that he should not have been released from jail on probation last week. 

"I heard this morning what he did to some woman in a massage parlor! And that is just horrible that they let people out on the street constantly, over and over to do this to other people. Because he victimized me and I'm out all that money for my ramps and I can't even go to people's home for the holidays, I was home because I couldn't go anywhere," Vincenza Curry said.

Grenier was arrested in Winter Garden and also faces a charge of resisting an officer with violence, police said. 

Grenier was booked into the Orange County Jail.

 


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