FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A 17-year-old Taco Bell employee who claims she was sexually assaulted by a co-worker in a freezer has filed a report with the Sheriff's office.
The teen told Fox 4 news she went to authorities because it wasn't the first time she's informed managers about her co-worker's inappropriate sexual advances.
"I didn't see it coming because they had talked to him before so I thought it was over with and I just thought of my anxiety and how that doesn't help at all," said the teen.
Fox 4 has chosen not to identify the teen because of her age. She says the incident occurred while she was in a freezer at the Taco Bell located at 12851 S Cleveland Ave in Fort Myers.
She told Fox 4 her co-worker followed her into the freezer and asked to help her find what she was looking for.
"The door closed and that's when he like put this arms around me from behind and like pulled me to him and saying stuff in Spanish that I couldn't understand," said teen.
An incident report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office states states the teen was inside the freezer when her co-worker "hugged her from behind and rubbed on her breasts and crotch."
She pulled away and reported the incident to her managers; however, she says nothing was done that night.
"After the incident he didn't get sent home or anything. I just thought about how wrong it was," said the teen.
She estimates the man is in his late 50's, and says while managers were aware of his behavior he has not been disciplined.
"It's like they take it as a joke or maybe they think it's cute but I don't. You're 60! I don't want anything to do with you," said the teen.
Her schedule has now been changed to allow a 30 min gap between their shifts, and her hours have been cut. She says managers are now telling her she will need to transfer to another restaurant.
Fox 4 contacted Taco Bell's corporate office several times Thursday to ask why the teen was being told to transfer locations, while the man she accused of assaulting her isn't.
In an email, they said "We're looking into this incident and will get back to you as soon as we can."
For the teen who no longer feels safe at work, it's simply too little too late.
"It's kind of like I'm the losing party, I guess," said teen.
