A Disney World employee notified police after suspecting that a person who called to buy tickets was being abused

walt disney world entrance
A Disney World employee's phone call led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man. SOPA Images/Getty Images
  • A woman called Disney World on January 9 pretending to buy tickets to the theme park.

  • The Disney employee helping her suspected she was being physically abused and alerted the police.

  • A 38-year-old man was later arrested and charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, and more.

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A Disney World employee took action in early January after suspecting a customer was being physically abused.

The Orlando, Florida, news station WESH 2 reported that a Pennsylvania woman called the theme park on January 9 and pretended to buy tickets. While on the phone, the woman was heard yelling "get off me" and "get away from me," according to the outlet.

The Northern York County Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania later confirmed to the station that the unnamed Disney employee called 911 to alert the police of the situation.

The 911 call from a Disney World employee later led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man

Before calling the police, the Disney employee asked the caller yes-or-no questions that allowed her to explain her situation without letting her boyfriend know she was trying to get help.

When the employee asked whether the caller was actually trying to book a vacation, she replied "no," the police told WESH 2. The booker also reportedly asked whether someone was hurting her and whether she needed law enforcement sent to her home. She reportedly responded "yes" to both questions.

The police responded, and the woman told authorities that she and her boyfriend, Wayne Shiflett, 38, had been arguing over his job selling fire extinguishers.

She recalled telling him at the time that she wanted him to get a "real job" and accused him of responding by grabbing her throat, slapping her, and threatening to kill her, according to Pennsylvania's Fox 43.

Shiflett was arrested and faces charges of strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault, and harassment.

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