A man in Colorado has been hospitalized after eating a Taco Bell meal that allegedly contained rat poison, officials said.
The investigation is ongoing, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office public information officer John Bartmann told USA TODAY on Wednesday.
Authorities are still working to confirm whether or not the man ingested rat poison — and, if so, whether or not rat poison was put in his food at the restaurant.
As of now, the case is categorized as a criminal attempted murder, Bartmann said.
The man, who has not been publicly identified, went to a Taco Bell in Aurora on Sunday afternoon, Bartmann explained. Officers responded to a verbal disturbance call from the restaurant’s drive-thru around 1 pm after the man argued with staff because the soda machine was not working.
The man asked for a free food replacement instead of the drink. He was given an additional burrito at no charge, restaurant manager Larry Swift told CBS Colorado.
“When we arrived (at Taco Bell), there was… no criminal activity. Just an unhappy customer, arguing with employees,” said Bartmann, noting that the man soon left the restaurant.
Later, however, the sheriff’s office dispatch received a call from an area hospital around 7:50 pm that night.
The hospital said it had a male patient who “possibly ingested rat poison,” Bartmann said. Officers responding to the scene discovered that the patient was the same man from the previous incident at Taco Bell.
Nation:Former GOP candidate linked to shootings at NM lawmakers’ homes appears in court. What to know about the case
‘Near whiteout conditions’:What to Know About Winter Storm, Minnesota to Maine Snow Forecast
The man told officers that after working in his home’s yard and watching some TV, he ate his Taco Bell food around 7 pm.
He “immediately felt a burning sensation and started to feel sick,” Bartmann said, adding that the man called 911 and was soon transported to a hospital.
Police officers who responded to the hospital found “a grey-green substance” that they were unable to identify in some of the food, Bartmann said.
Investigators then responded to the Taco Bell location to obtain more information from employees. The man also allowed investigators to go to his home to retrieve the rest of the food and any other evidence, Bartmann said.
Local health and environmental health authorities were also contacted. The Taco Bell location had to dispose of all its food before reopening. The restaurant was temporarily closed but is now open again, Bartmann said.
Policy:Congressman Greg Steube spent the night in intensive care after falling down a 25-foot ladder; ‘non-fatal’ injuries
“We don’t carry poison in the restaurant,” Swift told CBS Colorado. “We didn’t do any of that. It didn’t even work out.”
In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Wednesday, Taco Bell Corp. said “The safety of customers and team members is a top priority. The franchisee who owns and operates this location has informed us that they are working with local authorities on their investigation.”
Bartmann said Taco Bell provided authorities with all of its surveillance video, which investigators are still reviewing. Investigators are also holding back the man’s food to possibly test for rat poison, depending on how the case progresses in the future.
The man was released from the hospital, Bartmann said. He didn’t know his current condition.
What is everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to receive the latest news of the day
Experts emphasize that ingesting rat poison is very dangerous for humans. The University of Kansas Health System notes that symptoms of poisoning can include damage to the kidneys and other organs, seizures, bloody diarrhea, bleeding gums, hair loss and bruising.
It can also take a few days after exposure for symptoms to develop. “If left untreated, poisoning can lead to death,” says the National Pesticide Information Center.
Comments
Post a Comment