After reportedly putting a 10-year-old girl in a back room for treading on a freshly washed floor, a 33-year-old store manager was arrested for false imprisonment in a startling event that occurred at a Subway restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida.
What Happened?
James Anthony Morris Jr., the store manager, had just wiped a damp area of the floor when the girl and her mother visited the Subway location on Monday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Things swiftly got out of hand as the mother allegedly urged her daughter to apologize for the error.
Manager s Aggressive Reaction
Morris allegedly took the girl by the hand, tightened his hold, and pulled her into a back room, locked the door behind them, rather than accepting the apologies. Another employee saw the incident and later reported to the police that he heard the disturbance and thought Morris’ behavior was strange.
Morris allegedly informed the young girl that her parents were garbage and awful people while they were in the room, which made her even more afraid.
Mother s Panic and Intervention
The mother thought it was a prank at first. She panicked, however, when she was unable to open the door and Morris allegedly shoved it shut. After the two adults got into a fight, the mother was able to pry open the door, retrieve her daughter, and call for assistance.
After spending almost two minutes stuck inside, the youngster told authorities she was extremely afraid and believed she was being kidnapped.
Arrest and Charges
Later that day, Morris was taken into custody and accused of falsely imprisoning a minor under the age of thirteen. Throughout the investigation, he declined to make a statement to the police.
After being arrested and sent to the Duval County Jail, he was eventually freed on a $5,000 bail. August 13, 2025 is the date of his upcoming court appearance.
Community and Legal Response
Social media is ablaze with fury over this troubling episode, with many people wondering how such behavior in a public eatery went unpunished. According to legal experts, false imprisonment of a minor under the age of thirteen is a serious offense in Florida that, if found guilty, carries a possible prison sentence and lifelong legal repercussions.
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