Wendy's Manager Arrested for Allegedly Tying Neurodivergent Employee to Grill
A 19-year-old manager at a Tennessee Wendy's faces charges after admitting to tying a neurodivergent employee to a grill, an act she claimed was a TikTok trend.
A former Wendy's manager in Tennessee has been arrested and charged with simple assault and false imprisonment after allegedly tying a neurodivergent employee to a grill. Michiko Burton, 19, admitted to the incident when questioned by police on September 6, stating it was part of a TikTok trend. The Murfreesboro Police Department investigated the incident, which was also referred to Adult Protective Services.
Employee's Family Considers Legal Action
The family of the neurodivergent employee, who remains unidentified, expressed that the incident was a "traumatic event." Their attorney, Isaac Kimes, told Fox 8 that the family is considering legal action and asked police to reopen the investigation after a video of the incident gained traction. "The family thinks, and I think anyone would think, that it's absolutely inappropriate, unsafe, and dehumanizing to tie an employee to a grill," Kimes said.
Despite the family's concerns, the employee reportedly told officers that he was not upset and did not sustain any injuries. The video was filmed by a co-worker, Nicholus Murphy, who stated that Burton had asked the employee to "stay put" while she handled tasks in the back office. The employee was allegedly tied to the grill for seven minutes.
Murphy and the victim's family have disputed Burton's claim that the act was a TikTok trend. "If there was a TikTok trend, then where's the TikTok?" Murphy questioned.
Wendy's Response and Manager's Termination
Burton was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 22. She was reportedly fired from Wendy's following the incident. A franchisee representative for Wendy's of Bowling Green stated that the company "condemns" Burton's actions. "The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority," the statement read. "This behavior is inconsistent with our values and the standards we expect in our restaurants. Upon learning of the situation, it was promptly investigated and appropriate action was taken. We remain committed to maintaining a respectful workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect."
