A manager at an Arby’s fast food restaurant in Washington state has been accused of urinating into a milkshake mix that might then have been served to dozens of people, Fox 11 reports.
Vancouver Police told the media company they found footage of the alleged incidents while investigating another line of enquiry.
ARBY’S MANAGER ACCUSED OF URINATING IN MILKSHAKE MIX
Vancouver Police said the manager of the sandwich restaurant outlet, Stephen Sharp, had admitted to authorities he urinated in a milkshake mix on two separate occasions – on October 30th and October 31st, 2021.
The Columbian reported that on the day Sharp allegedly contaminated a container, between 30 and 40 drinks were served to customers.
Sharp said he was “almost sure” he threw away the mix after urinating in it but told authorities if the mixture wasn’t thrown away, it might have been used for milkshakes the next day.
Vancouver Police found no evidence that Arby’s or its franchisee were aware of any issue but have asked customers to get in touch if they purchased a milkshake from Arby’s at 221 NE 104 Avenue, Vancouver, on October 30th and 31st, 2021 with a receipt confirming purchase.
A Washington state man who worked as a manager at Arby’s has been accused of peeing into the restaurant’s milkshake mix, which could have later been served to dozens of customers.
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 17, 2022
A representative for Arby’s called Sharp’s alleged actions “abhorrent” and said the company was co-operating with police during the investigation.
An Arby’s spokesperson told Fox: “The alleged actions of the former franchised employee are abhorrent and unacceptable.
“We have taken immediate action with the franchise group which terminated (employment) of the former employee and is fully co-operating with the authorities in their investigation.”
Vancouver Police said Sharp was originally arrested regarding images found on his digital devices after a search warrant was executed at his home.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Clark County Superior Court, the video’s metadata showed it was recorded on Oct. 30 at an Arby’s in Vancouver’s Mill Plain neighborhood.
The manager acknowledged to investigators that he urinated in the milkshake mix bag at least twice, but said he was “almost sure” he threw the bag out. He said he was working alone in the restaurant that night and that he did it for sexual gratification.
He told detectives that if he didn’t throw the bag away, it would have been added to other mix by the next shift and served to customers, police said.
Another manager at the Arby’s told detectives the restaurant sold at least one ice cream float and about 30 to 40 milkshakes that day, court records said.
In an email to The Columbian, Vancouver Police Sgt. Julie Ballou said investigators had no evidence that Arby’s or its franchise owner was aware of the man’s “abhorrent actions.”
Clark County Public Health Director Dr. Alan Melnick told the newspaper there is no significant health risk to consuming a drink contaminated with urine.
A judge raised the man’s bail Friday from $5,000 to $40,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 25.
