Locals in Hueytown, Alabama, are furious after a Wendy’s night out turned into a nightmare for a group of high school friends — all because of a $50 bill that wasn’t even fake.
According to police, a Wendy’s manager allegedly locked several teens inside the restaurant after accusing one of them of trying to pay for food with a counterfeit bill. The shocking incident happened on October 16 around 4 p.m., and it’s now sparking major backlash online.
“She said, ‘Y’all not leaving til I get my money,’” one of the teens told WBRC News. “When one of my friends tried to leave, she pushed him and called the police. She had locked the doors — we couldn’t go nowhere — so we just sat down.”
Police later confirmed the $50 was real, but by then, the parents were demanding justice. The Hueytown Police Department said the manager is now facing three counts of unlawful imprisonment and one count of harassment, each carrying a $500 bond, totaling $2,000.
“This could have gone wrong in so many ways,” said Erica Davis Temple, the mother of one of the boys. “He could have been arrested, or worse. I could have been getting a call saying my child was dead.”
Local parents are calling for the manager’s immediate termination and mandatory training for all Wendy’s staff. They say the kids’ experience — being locked inside by an adult authority figure — was traumatic and completely unacceptable.
Wendy’s has yet to comment publicly on the situation, but residents aren’t waiting around. On social media, users are slamming the restaurant, with one commenter writing, “So we’re locking kids in now over pocket change? This isn’t Monopoly.”
The case has reignited conversations about how fast-food employees handle disputes — and how quickly a misunderstanding can turn dangerous.
I think the real issue here is: A teenager with a $50 bill? That really says something about the state of our youth today! However, NO, they should never have been “imprisoned” in a locked room. I’m willing to bet they were laughing their ASP off, even while detained in the room!
I would have assaulted yhr
The fact the $50 is real is the craziest part of the story. Sorry ms, you can’t illegal detain someone, oh and maybe you should get a marker to verify bills. But in the meantime, you’ve just been fired and now arrested.
But at the end of day, this is an employee that takes her job seriously and is good for the bottom line, assuming you don’t get sued by the kids parents. Hahahaha
After reading this, you find the ‘real issue’ is that kids have a $50 bill? I send my 11yr old out with a $100 bill, he makes change and plays dice on the playground