Oklahoma Sonic Manager Accused of Giving Teen Employee Marijuana

A Tulsa Sonic manager has been arrested after police say she gave a marijuana edible to a 16-year-old employee during their shift, leading to the teen being hospitalized.

What Happened?

Tulsa Police responded to a 911 call Sunday night from a concerned mother, reporting that her daughter appeared to be overdosing at the Sonic location near 51st and Union. When officers arrived, the teenager was reportedly unresponsive and had been vomiting.

Tulsa County Sheriff's Office

“She was pretty much unconscious, throwing up—clearly sick from something she consumed,” said Officer Danny Bean with the Tulsa Police Department.

Manager Admits to Providing Edible

According to authorities, the teen's mother informed police that the manager, identified as Darlene Durham, had given her daughter the edible. When questioned, Durham admitted to it, stating she only did so because the teen asked for it.

Officer Bean expressed frustration over the explanation. “That’s zero accountability,” he said. “You don’t hand a 16-year-old something like that and think it’s okay—especially not at work, surrounded by customers and food.”

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Charges Filed: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Durham was arrested and charged with the misdemeanor of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police emphasized that providing any controlled substance to a minor is illegal, regardless of whether the minor requested it.

“Even if the teen wanted it, it’s still a crime,” Bean added. “And doing this in a public restaurant puts everyone at risk.”
Durham has since bonded out of jail. Sonic has not yet responded to requests for comment.