Wayne Man Chokes Burger King Employee Over Wearing Mask: Police

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne man choked a Burger King employee last weekend after arguing with workers at the fast-food chain earlier in the day about not wearing a mask, police said.

About 4:10 p.m. Saturday, Wayne police responded to the Burger King on Route 23 South regarding the report of a man, later identified as David Siversten, choking a female employee of the restaurant, police said.

Siversten was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

The employee told police Siversten "entered the restaurant, approached her and wrapped both hands around her neck and began strangling her." Video from the restaurant confirmed her account, police said.

Another employee intervened, and Siversten fled. The victim of the attack complained of pain but declined transport to a hospital, according to police.

Police said they determined that Siversten was the same man who had argued with restaurant employees about not wearing a mask earlier in the day. He fled the restaurant before police arrived regarding that incident as well, authorities said.

A patrol officer found a man matching Siversten's description seated in a driveway along the Newark-Pompton Turnpike. Siversten told the approaching officer "you got me," Wayne police said.

Siversten was "agitated" and "appeared to be under the influence of alcohol," police said. The officer detained him, and the victim was brought to his location and identified him as the man who had assaulted her, police said.

He 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 brought to a hospital and, once medically cleared, was taken to Passaic County Jail pending a hearing, police said.

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