Osceola County restaurant manager arrested for sexually assaulting teen employee: Deputies
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla - A restaurant manager was arrested for allegedly having sex with a teenage employee, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said Thursday
During a news conference, deputies said they arrested 32-year-old Calvin Cooke, the manager of a Pizza Hut near the west side of Osceola County.
Deputies responded to the restaurant on Aug. 26 in reference to a "rape in progress." When they arrived, they said they met with the victim, a high school student who recently started working at the restaurant.
Cooke asked the teen to clean the bathroom, and he allegedly followed her and shut the door.
"He told the victim to clean the female bathroom. When the victim went into the bathroom he followed her and shut the door. While in the bathroom he committed sex acts upon the victim," said Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez.
Deputies said Cooke was aware that the teen was underage.
"The actions of this individual are not only disgusting and disturbing beyond words can describe, but they are the betrayal and disruption of trust we put into adults," said Sheriff Lopez.
Cooke reportedly began flirting with the teen on Snapchat, gave her an electronic cigarette to smoke, and sent nude pictures.
"She had been working at the Pizza Hut for just a few weeks," the sheriff added. "When deputies contacted Calvin he admitted he knew she was a juvenile, and he admitted he performed sex acts on her."
Sheriff Marcos Lopez said another employee noticed what happened and told the girl’s parents when they came to pick her up at the restaurant.
"They called 911. When detectives spoke to the victim she said she was worried about making him upset and was concerned about her job," said Sheriff Lopez.
Cooke was arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor, transmitting information that's harmful to a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The sheriff said he is concerned there could be other victims, adding, "We want to make sure he’s held accountable and responsible if he has committed these acts on anybody else."
Cooke faces charges including sex battery of a minor, transmitting information harmful to a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
FOX 35 News recevied the following statement from Pizza Hut spokesperson regarding the incident:
"Pizza Hut takes these allegations very seriously and has been in contact with the franchisee who owns and operates the restaurant at issue. The franchisee has made the decision to terminate the manager while they continue to cooperate with the local authorities in their investigation."
Anyone with information on the case can call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). If anyone else has been a victim of Cooke, they are asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Department.