Dwayne Waden, a 57-year-old pastor at Elevated Life International Ministries in High Point, North Carolina, was arrested on Dec. 28 for allegedly attacking 34-year-old McDonald’s employee Theodore Garlington and attempting to push his head in the restaurant’s deep fryer.
According to reports, Waden’s wife, Latoya Gladney, was training to become a manager at the McDonald’s location where the attack took place. The pastor showed up at the McDonald’s after his wife told him via phone that employees at the popular fast food restaurant chain were “disrespecting” her.
Waden entered the “Golden Arches,” walked behind the service counter, and headed towards one of the “two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun” cooks.
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The police report said that the pastor then “placed his hands around the neck of the victim pushing his head toward the deep fryer. The offender also punched the victim several times on the face, and did not stop until several employees pulled the [pastor] off the victim.”
As a result of the attack, the employee “suffered from a large contusion to the forehead and right eye” and scratches on his neck. The victim’s family drove him to the hospital after he declined to be taken via ambulance.
Waden, who also lists himself as a semi-truck driver on his Facebook page, was arrested and later released after posting the $1,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 22.
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The incident was captured on video by the restaurant’s surveillance cameras.
CBS News reported that Waden’s wife is no longer employed by McDonald’s, adding that a spokesperson for the local franchise stated, “The safety and security of our employees and customers is our top priority.”
ChurchLeaders has reached out to Waden via social media for comment and will update this article in the event of his reply.
