Rat poison found in Taco Bell takeout order and customer hospitalized, authorities say

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office says it has an “open and active investigation” into how rat poison ended up in a to-go meals order of a person who purchased burritos Sunday from a Taco Bell restaurant within the Denver suburb of Aurora, CBS Colorado’s Brian Maass reviews.

“Right now what we’re looking at is if the rat poison was actually put into his food at the restaurant. We don’t know if it was, at this point in time,” Sheriff Deputy John Bartmann advised the station, including that the case is categorized as “criminal attempt homicide.” 

Bartmann and the restaurant supervisor, Lary Swift, each advised CBS Colorado {that a} male buyer got here into the restaurant round 1 p.m. Sunday and argued with restaurant staff about his meals order.

Swift mentioned the person was upset that the restaurant’s drink station was not working and “wanted something free.” Swift mentioned the person argued with workers and different restaurant clients. She mentioned the person is a daily patron who’s brought about issues earlier than. On one event, she mentioned, he threw a taco at an worker.

Swift mentioned he ordered three bean burritos and was given a fourth burrito free.

Bartmann mentioned that at about 7 p.m., the person ate the restaurant meals and “became violently ill” and known as 911. He was transported to an space hospital.

“That hospital said they had a patient who has possibly consumed rat poison in his food from the same restaurant,” mentioned Bartmann.

Bartmann declined to launch the person’s id however mentioned sufficient rat poison was discovered within the burritos that “it would have been very serious to our victim’s health.”

Deputies closed the restaurant on Sunday night.

Swift mentioned police got here again asserting that the eatery had “poisoned somebody.”

“We don’t carry poison in the restaurant,” she mentioned. “We didn’t do anything like that. It didn’t even add up. It’s ridiculous.”

Swift mentioned the restaurant turned over surveillance video to Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the sheriff’s workplace mentioned it was reviewing the video in addition to different proof it had collected.

CBS News Colorado contacted Taco Bell’s company communications through e mail and obtained the next response: “The safety of customers and team members is a priority. The franchisee who owns and operates this location has informed us that they are working with local authorities in their investigation.”