Restaurant manager charged with assault
Published 11:45 pm Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A 30-year-old Norfolk man was arrested Sunday and charged with an alleged sexual assault against his employee at a North Suffolk fast-food restaurant.
Michael Thaddeus Smith, of Lester Avenue, is accused of approaching the male victim in the restroom, fondling him and performing a sexual act on him, according to a police summary of the alleged incident filed with the arrest warrant.
The alleged incident happened Saturday around 8 p.m. at the Burger King in the 2900 block of Bridge Road, the victim reported. He was completing his break when Smith told him to use the bathroom before he went back on shift, he told police.
While inside, Smith entered the stall and began to fondle the victim, according to the report.
The victim “told Mr. Smith that he was not gay and Mr. Smith told him that it didn’t matter,” according to the report.
The victim tried to leave, he told police, but Smith allegedly pushed him back and physically restrained him from leaving the stall, then began performing a sexual act on him.
The victim told Smith to stop at least three times, according to the report. Before leaving the bathroom, Smith allegedly gave the victim $20 and told him not to tell anyone.
The victim later told at least three other co-workers what had happened, then had his father pick him up and told him as well.
According to the summary filed with the arrest report, Smith at first denied being in the bathroom but then admitted he had performed the sexual act.
He is charged with abduction with intent to defile and forcible sodomy. A court hearing is set for July 16.