Niamh Shackleton
A pastor has been accused of attempting to shove a McDonald's employee's head into a deep fryer.
Dwayne Waden's wife was training to be a manager at a North Carolina restaurant and ended up calling her spouse when she felt like staff were 'disrespecting' her.
Waden, 57, is then said to have rocked up to the fast food establishment on December 28, walked behind the counter and placed his hands around one of the worker's neck.
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According to witnesses, Waden - a pastor - is alleged to have then tried to put the victim's head towards one of deep fryers.
The 57-year-old is also said to have punched the person in the face several times and didn't stop hitting the worker until several members of staff pulled him off them, police said.
The victim is reported to have suffered a 'large contusion' to the forehead and right eye as a result of the incident, as well as scratches on their neck.
They were taken to hospital by family members to be checked over on the day of the ordeal.
After officials viewed CCTV footage of the incident, Waden was arrested for assault and battery.
The pastor was taken to police headquarters and was posted on bond for $1,000.
Waden is next due in court on January 22, as per an arrest report obtained by UNILAD.
The narrative section of the report adds: "Officers responded to an Assault Call and arrested the offender based on probable Cause after our Investigation without incident."
Waden's wife is no longer a member of staff at McDonald's, the fast food chain confirmed to CBS News.
Elsewhere, in a statement to UNILAD, a spokesperson for McDonald's said: "The safety and security of our employees and customers is our top priority, and I was appalled by this act of violence in my restaurant last week.
"Law enforcement was called immediately when this incident occurred, and we will continue to cooperate with the authorities on this matter."
This isn't the only drama to have unfolded at a McDonald's restaurant of late.
In the run up to Christmas, one man claims to have found a crack pipe in his breakfast order.
The customer took to Reddit to share news of their find, writing: "Not sure what I should do... Order breakfast from drive thru and a found a crack pipe in the bag... Luckily I'm a adult and not a child opening a happy meal."
The poster claimed they'd notified the manager about the incident, writing: "I [tried] to give the bag to the manager he didn't want to take it back."
The matter was then investigated by health inspectors, but it remains unclear where the pipe came from.