Ex-wendy’s manager now facing hate crime charges over treatment of team
A former fast food restaurant manager charged by police after he allegedly used racial slurs against Woodstock Academy’s basketball team, is now facing hate crime charges, in addition to his original charge of second-degree breach of peace, court documents show.
Brett White, 22, manager then on duty at Wendy’s on Pratt Road in Plainfield on Feb. 9, was originally charged with second-degree breach of peace. A spokesperson for Wendy’s said White is no longer employed by the company and decried his alleged behavior.
On Tuesday during White’s court appearance officials added the charges of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the third-degree and deprivation of a person’s equal rights and privileges by force or threat. Both are misdemeanor charges. The State’s Attorneys office couldn’t be reached for comment to elaborate on the added charges.
As part of Tuesday’s court proceedings in Superior Court in Danielson, White was ordered to stay away from Woodstock Academy and have no direct or indirect contact with the victims.
The Plainfield Police Department responded to the Wendy’s on Pratt Road in Plainfield before 10 p.m. on Feb. 9 for a 911 call reporting a verbal argument over a refusal of service. Police arrived on the scene and spoke with several members of the Woodstock Academy team who said they were refused service and called racial slurs by White, of 219 Bennett Pond Rd., Canterbury.
The school’s official statement on the matter, made the day after the ordeal, describes what happened from the coaches’ and players’ perspectives:
“Last night, as the boys’ basketball team was returning from an away game, they stopped for dinner at Wendy’s in Plainfield.
Upon entering Wendy’s, the team was refused service, even though the establishment was clearly open, there was a line in the drive-thru, and customers in the restaurant. When the manager was questioned as to why service was being refused, he verbally assaulted our coaches ... with expletives and racial slurs. A customer called 911, and members of the Plainfield Police Department arrived and arrested the manager.”
White admitted to using racial slurs and was arrested around 10:15 p.m., police have said. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
A spokesperson for Wendy’s said the company has, “zero tolerance for racial harassment or discrimination.”
A statement from the company reads in part: “We condemn this manager’s conduct as completely inconsistent with our values and have taken prompt and immediate action. We are committed to working with our teammates to ensure that our restaurants continue to be welcoming to all who visit.”
White could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Woodstock Academy Head of School Chris Sandford could not be reached for comment Tuesday on the additional charges, but in part, said in the news release the day after the incident: “While I am angry and devastated over this incident, I could not be more proud of our coaches and student-athletes. These coaches are building fine young men who are going to change the world. This experience is not only life-changing for those involved, but it has also shown that the work we have been doing as a school community in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion is more important than ever.”
Associate Head of School Holly Singleton said in the school news release that she was proud of the school members who “showed integrity in the face of bigotry and hatred.”