Suit: McDonald's Employee Exposed Himself To Girl At Eatery
CHICAGO (CBS) - A woman filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the McDonald's Corporation after an employee allegedly exposed himself to her daughter in the play area of a Northwest Side restaurant in 2009.
A woman claims McDonalds employee Pablo Salgado exposed himself to her daughter Sept. 19, 2009, at the restaurant at 3540 N. Harlem Ave., according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
The suit claims Salgado, a playground equipment cleaner with a prior criminal record for sexual exploitation, hid in a tube slide in an attached play area and befriended the 8-year-old girl.
Salgado, 52, of the 2900 block of North Monitor Avenue, was arrested in September 2009 and charged with sexual exploitation of a child, police said.
The suit says Salgado pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation with a minor and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Salgado allegedly asked the victim, "Do you know what the older kids do in the tunnel slides after the store is closed? They rub each other.'' This he supposedly said while rubbing his groin area, groaning and telling the girl that the older kids "like it,'' according to police.
When the girl tried to walk away, he put his hands on her shoulder, preventing her from leaving, police said.
Salgado became distracted when another child walked into the play area and the girl was able to walk away, police said.
However, the suit claims Salgado convinced the girl to follow him to the restrooms and exposed his penis, masturbated and invited the girl to touch him.
The suit claims the McDonald's and franchise operator Wright Management Inc. failed to perform a criminal background check and failed to supervise Salgado. It also claims the restaurant failed to close equipment being cleaned.
Salgado was reportedly arrested in 2003 for public indecency and was convicted for criminal sexual abuse in 1999 for which he received supervision, according to police.
A McDonald's representative could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
The mother, identified only as Jane Doe, is seeking judgment against the McDonald's Corporation, Wright Management Inc. and Salgado.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
