Wendy’s Manager Arrested for Tying Employee to Grill
Wendy’s manager faces assault and imprisonment charges for tying a neurodivergent employee to a grill in Tennessee.
A 19-year-old Wendy’s manager in Tennessee faces charges of simple assault and false imprisonment after allegedly tying a neurodivergent employee to a grill. Michiko Burton claimed her actions were part of a “TikTok trend.” The incident, which occurred on August 30 at a Wendy’s in Murfreesboro, gained attention after video surfaced showing the employee restrained with trash bags and tied to kitchen equipment.
The Wendy’s location is situated in the 3300 block of South Church Street, about 35 miles southeast of Nashville. According to the Murfreesboro Police Department, Burton admitted to tying the employee to a workstation during an interview on September 6, stating it was part of a TikTok trend. The case was initially referred to Adult Protective Services before detectives with the Special Victims Unit took over, obtained a warrant, and arrested Burton on September 17.
Employee’s Account and Witness Testimony
Another employee, Nicholus Murphy, witnessed the incident and filmed portions of it. Murphy told a local news station that Burton said she needed the victim to “stay put” while she handled other work in the back of the restaurant, adding that “she didn’t want to babysit him.” Murphy said, “I actually felt sad for him.” He also pushed back against Burton’s claim that her actions had anything to do with an online trend, asking, “If there was a TikTok trend, then where’s the TikTok?”
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Investigation and Consequences
Despite the employee telling police he was not upset and had not been injured, his family pushed for the investigation to be reopened. The case was eventually handed over to the Special Victims Unit, leading to Burton’s arrest. She was released after posting a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 22.
The employee’s family, represented by attorney Isaac Kimes, is considering legal action. Kimes described the event as “an awful, traumatic event”, stating, “The young man in the video seen now by millions is not doing well.”
Company Response and Next Steps
Wendy’s of Bowling Green, the franchisee, released a statement condemning Burton’s actions as “inconsistent with our values and the standards we expect in our restaurants.” An area manager described the incident as “unacceptable” during a recorded meeting with employees. The company stated they promptly investigated the incident and took appropriate action, emphasizing their commitment to a respectful workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect.
