Columbus Police Department has officially opened a criminal investigation into the alleged serving of contaminated food at Jack’s restaurant on Highway 45.
According to a department press release, the victim, who is from Tupelo, of the alleged incident contacted Police Chief Oscar Lewis late Thursday. Lewis is working to prepare a report on that information. CPD declined to identify the victim.
CPD’s investigation is the third into the matter. The Mississippi Department of Health and Jack’s Family Restaurants, Inc., have both launched investigations into the incident, during which a restaurant worker allegedly wiped menstrual fluid on and licked a food order before it was served to a customer. Public awareness of the alleged incident first emerged through social media.
According to the release, Lewis and Capt. Brent Swan met with Mayor Robert Smith and City Attorney Jeff Turnage about the case before announcing the CPD investigation.
“There has been a lot of information on this case out in social media already,” Lewis said. “We have had to sift through to determine what was fact and what was not. At this point, we know enough to open an official case, and that is what we are doing today.”
Lewis also said it’s too early to make any specific comments about the case, but CPD will work on the investigation as it would any other.
In the release, the mayor said he felt the matter is worth the investigation.
“I’m glad a case has been opened on this incident to see exactly what happened,” Smith said. “There are laws relating to tampering with food, and this is a serious issue. I see it as an issue of public safety, and I look forward to seeing the results of the investigation.”
Other investigations
Liz Sharlot, director of communications for the Mississippi Department of Health, said the department completed an investigation and is working with CPD on its investigation.
“Our investigator did a thorough investigation of the restaurant and talked to restaurant management about their policies and procedures,” she said. “We have determined that the restaurant is perfectly safe for people to eat there.
“Because the incident involved a case of alleged intentional contamination, we sent it over to local law enforcement,” she continued. “Our department does not do criminal investigations. Our job is to make sure the restaurant is following proper procedures and policies. Jack’s has a very good reputation, and we’re satisfied it is meeting all standards for safety.”
In a statement issued by email, Jack’s Brand Manager Christy Gravitt said the company’s internal investigation is ongoing.
“As part of this investigation, the company has reviewed several hours of restaurant surveillance footage and interviewed all employees working during the shift in question,” the statement said. “Jack’s has also been in contact with local authorities and the Lowndes County Health Department, which conducted a restaurant inspection on Wednesday, January 11. The restaurant received an ‘A’ rating.”
Social media post
Tabatha Hollins of New Hope posted news of the incident, which allegedly happened between 10 and 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. Hollins said her 16-year-old daughter, a former restaurant employee, saw the incident and told her about it. The daughter claimed she was fired on Tuesday for reporting the incident, and in her Facebook post, Hollins said the restaurant told her daughter she was terminated for making a false report.
The post also contained a cell phone voice recording, which Hollins said was a conversation between her daughter and the employee who defiled the sandwich. In the recording, made a day after the incident, it seems the employee admits to the act.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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