Taco Bell worker stripped, searched
Laura Dobbins The Arizona Republic
Mar. 27, 2004 12:00 AM
FOUNTAIN HILLS - Authorities say a 39-year-old Taco Bell manager forced a 17-year-old female employee to strip and endure a body search after a caller posing as a police officer gave him instructions to do so at the Fountain Hills restaurant this week.
The girl was taken to a back room in the restaurant and told to disrobe, said Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Once naked, she was asked to do jumping jacks and was then subjected to a body search, Arpaio said.
The apparent ruse began when a caller posing as a police officer called the Taco Bell this week giving a general description of a female employee he said needed to be detained as a crime suspect.
The Taco Bell manager carried out instructions as the caller listened on the phone, Arpaio said. It appears the scam has been circulating since 1999. A person or persons call fast-food restaurants pretending to be law enforcement officers or corporate directors looking to arrest store employees, Arpaio said.
Parents of the victim were furious when they learned from their daughter what transpired. They contacted the Sheriff's Office, which launched an investigation.
"No law enforcers would ever have a civilian detain and search someone," Arpaio said.
The Sheriff's Office has issued letters to all Valley corporate fast-food offices warning them of this scam. Taco Bell administrators have also contacted stores nationwide.
"Employees have been instructed to take the caller's information and pass it on to local law enforcers," said Laurie Schalow, Taco Bell spokeswoman. Arpaio said he doesn't know whether the girl has received counseling. The manager has been placed on administrative leave with pay during the investigation.
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Bogus policeman's call gets girl strip searched
A 17-year-old girl was strip searched after a caller convinced a burger bar manager he was a policeman.
The man had phoned the Indiana restaurant to say he was investigating a purse theft.
The manager became suspicious after the caller began asking intimate questions.
He told the 20-year-old female manager he was a policeman investigating a theft by an employee of Arby's resturant in Noblesville.
He asked the manager to describe each employee and then the caller picked out the girl. He then ordered the manager to strip search her.
The manager told police she took the girl to the women's toilets and conducted the search, reports The Indianapolis Star.
After about 45 minutes the employee called her parents and the manager called the police.
Its still idiotic.
"No law enforcers would ever have a civilian detain and search someone," Arpaio said.
duh!