A Kansas McDonald’s worker has been charged with one count of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer for allegedly putting cleaner in a deputy’s drink.
Trevor Hockaday, 22, was charged Wednesday by Allen County police for putting a peroxide-based cleaner usually used to clean the restaurant’s counters in an Allen County deputy’s drink on Sept. 12.
According to investigators, the deputy picked up the food from the McDonald’s drive-thru while Hockaday was working. Officials say a short time after drinking the beverage, the deputy experienced flu-like symptoms, KOAM reports.
“He thought he caught the bug, but we found out two weeks later when an employee came forward and told the police department,” Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy said to the Wichita Eagle.
According to the publication, a co-worker of Hockaday’s came forward and said Hockaday added “four little squirts” of the cleaner to the cop’s beverage.
“In today’s day and age, not only us in law enforcement but citizens as a whole, there’s enough going on out there that we have to worry about … now my guys are cautious about going through that drive-thru,” Murphy said to the Wichita Eagle. “We all chose this line of work to protect and serve. Now my guys have that concern of ‘Is my food safe.’”
If convicted of the felony charge, Hockaday could face more than 20 years in jail.
The Iola McDonald’s owner, Glen Nichols, said in a statement to KOAM that the fast food chain is working with authorities.
“In our restaurants, nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers. We are very disappointed by the allegations made regarding the behavior of one of our former crew members. This kind of behavior goes against our food safety standards and is not tolerated. Our organization will take all appropriate measures to gather facts and will work closely with authorities in their investigation.”
The investigation is ongoing.