WAYNE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Passaic County) – A man was arrested after he allegedly tried to strangle a female Burger King employee after a face mask dispute Saturday afternoon in Wayne Township.
On Saturday, March 27, at around 4:10 p.m., township police responded to the Burger King, located on Route 23 south, following the report of a man choking a female employee of the restaurant and prior to the arrival of officer, the suspect fled the scene on foot, police said.
While searching the surrounding area, an alert patrol officer found a man matching the suspect description seated in a driveway on Newark-Pompton Turnpike, police said.
As the officer approached, the suspect came towards him stating “You got me,” police said.
The suspect was agitated and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The officer detained the suspect and the victim was brought to his location. The victim identified him as the man who had assaulted her and he was then arrested, police said.
The female employee, who was outweighed by the male assailant by 80 pounds, stated that the suspect entered the restaurant, approached her and wrapped both hands around her neck and began strangling her. Video from the restaurant confirmed her description, police said.
The attack only ended when another female employee intervened and the suspect fled. The victim of the attack complained of pain, but declined transport to a hospital, police said.
A further police investigation determined that the suspect was the same man who had entered Burger King earlier the same day and argued with restaurant employees about him not wearing a mask. He fled the restaurant prior to the arrival of police in that incident as well, police said.
David Siversten was charged with aggravated assault. Police didn’t release where he resides.
Siversten became uncooperative during processing and injured himself by intentionally slamming his head into the steel bench to which he was handcuffed, police said.
Siversten was transported to a hospital and, once medically cleared, he was transported to Passaic County Jail pending a hearing, police said.
