Former City Councilman Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Hooters Employees With Disturbing Remarks About Rape and Murder

William Carroll, 56, faces two misdemeanor charges after allegedly making violent and sexually threatening statements to two female employees at a restaurant in Alabama.

A former city councilman in Mobile, Alabama, has been arrested after allegedly making disturbing threats toward two female employees at a Hooters restaurant. William Carroll Jr., 56, was taken into custody on October 28, 2026, and charged with two counts of second-degree making terrorist threats. The allegations stem from an incident at the restaurant on Airport Boulevard on October 14, when employees reportedly became frightened by comments Carroll allegedly made about sexual violence and killing people.

According to complaints filed in Mobile County District Court, Carroll allegedly directed threatening remarks at a female employee, telling her that he raped young girls and claiming he had killed people. A second complaint describes a separate encounter with the restaurant’s manager, during which he allegedly made similar statements about rape and murder. The manager reportedly feared for her safety and called 911. The complaints state that the employees were alarmed by the remarks and believed the statements posed a threat to their safety.

Police responded to the restaurant after receiving a report about the incident. Officers issued Carroll a trespass warning and instructed him to leave the premises. However, he was not arrested that day. Nearly two weeks later, authorities obtained arrest warrants, and Carroll was taken to the Mobile County Metro Jail on October 28. He was released after posting a total bond of $6,000, with $3,000 assigned to each charge. Both charges are misdemeanors under Alabama law, despite the use of the term “terrorist threats.”

Hooters confirmed that the incident had occurred at its Mobile location. The company said the employee reported the disturbing comments to a manager, after which Carroll was asked to leave and law enforcement was notified. The restaurant also said it provided support and security to the employees involved. Meanwhile, Carroll’s spokesperson described the situation as a heated disagreement and indicated that he intended to take further action regarding the charges. The allegations have not yet been tested in court, and Carroll has not been convicted.

Carroll previously represented District 2 on the Mobile City Council from 2005 to 2013 before returning to the position in 2021. He served until 2025, when he lost his re-election bid to Samantha Ingram. His former political position has drawn additional attention to the case, but authorities have not suggested that the alleged restaurant incident was connected to his time in public office.

Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said his office would evaluate the allegations through the same process used in other criminal cases. Investigators still need to review the evidence and interview witnesses before the case proceeds. It remains unclear whether Carroll has entered a plea or retained legal counsel. For the two employees involved, the incident has raised serious concerns about workplace safety. For Carroll, the charges remain allegations, and prosecutors must prove them in court before he can be found guilty.

Source: PEOPLE – Former Councilman Arrested After Allegedly Making Terrorist Threats at Hooters