McDonald's Manager Accused in Ohio

Thursday, October 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) â€” A McDonald's restaurant manager who admitted to strip searching two teen-age employees testified he followed orders from someone he thought was a police detective.

Scott Winsor, 35, appeared Wednesday before Judge Thomas Payne for a bench trial in county court. Winsor was accused of unlawful restraint and sexual imposition.

Winsor said he thought he was cooperating with a police investigation of stolen money when he strip searched Stacy Carruthers, 19, and Sara Quick, 18, in June 1999 at the restaurant.

The teens testified that they also thought the man giving directions to Winsor over the phone was a detective. Authorities said the call to the restaurant was not from a police detective. The person posing as a law enforcement official has not been found.

The young women claimed Winsor touched them inappropriately while they were undressed. Winsor said he only touched the employees to help them take off their shoes.

Winsor testified that after the teens left work, he tried to reach the detective at the police department but was told he was not working.

Payne was expected to rule in the case in the next few days.

The teens' parents have filed a civil suit against McDonald's and Winsor for sexual harassment, assault and battery, and false imprisonment. No trial date has been set on the suit.