Former Wendy's Manager, 19, Accused of Tying Neurodivergent Worker to Kitchen Grill

A former Wendy's manager has been charged after allegedly using garbage bags to tie a neurodivergent employee to a kitchen grill, before telling police the incident was part of a TikTok trend.

Michiko Burton, 19, was arrested on 17 September over the 30 August incident at a Wendy's on South Church Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She faces charges of simple assault and false imprisonment, both misdemeanour offences, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department.

But the explanation Burton reportedly gave police has since been challenged by the co-worker who filmed the incident.

Seven Minutes at the Grill

Fellow Wendy's employee Nicholus Murphy recorded the encounter, which later became evidence in the investigation.

Police said Burton told investigators she had tied the neurodivergent worker to a workstation. Local reporting said garbage bags were wrapped around the employee's leg and tied to the grill. The worker was reportedly restrained for about seven minutes.

Murphy said Burton told him she did not want to 'babysit' the employee and wanted him to 'stay put' while she dealt with other work.

The footage left Murphy deeply upset.

'I actually felt sad for him,' he said. 'I actually wanted to cry.'

The employee has not been publicly identified. His family has confirmed that he is neurodivergent.

The TikTok Claim

On 6 September, Murfreesboro police interviewed Burton about the incident. According to police, she admitted tying the worker to the equipment but said it was part of a TikTok trend.

Murphy strongly disputes that explanation.

'If there was a TikTok trend, then where's the TikTok?' he said.

He also told WKRN that the footage was his recording and that there was no separate TikTok video of the incident. Murphy said he handed the footage to police as evidence.

That leaves two sharply different accounts of why the worker was restrained, with Burton's reported explanation forming part of the police investigation and Murphy rejecting it.

Investigation Leads To Arrest

The case did not immediately result in criminal charges.

Police interviewed the employee, who told officers he was not upset and had not been injured. His family later asked police to reopen the investigation after the video came to light.

The incident was referred to Adult Protective Services and investigated by detectives with the Murfreesboro Police Department's Special Victims Unit.

The investigation led to warrants being obtained for Burton's arrest. She was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $2,000 (£1,513) bond and is due to appear in General Sessions Court on 22 October.

Wendy's Fires Manager

Burton is no longer employed by the restaurant.

A Wendy's statement said the safety and wellbeing of employees was its 'top priority' and that the behaviour was inconsistent with the company's values and restaurant standards.

The franchisee said the incident was promptly investigated after it was brought to its attention and that appropriate action was taken. It also said it remained committed to a workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect.

Family Calls Incident Traumatic

Isaac Kimes, an attorney for the employee's family, said the incident had been deeply traumatic for the young man shown in the video.

'This has been an awful traumatic event,' Kimes told WSMV.

He said the family was considering legal action and described tying an employee to a grill as 'inappropriate, unsafe, and dehumanizing'.

For now, Burton's criminal case remains pending. Her charges concern the alleged incident at the Murfreesboro restaurant, while the competing accounts over the claimed TikTok trend remain part of the story surrounding the case.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for 22 October.