Teen restaurant workers arrested for spitting in police officers' food

Police have charged three Florida teens with food tampering (a first-degree felony) and battery on a law enforcement officer (a third-degree felony) after they were allegedly caught spitting in food served to two deputies, local news outlet WPTV reports.

The teens and the Okeechobee, Fla. restaurant where they were employed at the time of the April 27 incident have not been publicly identified. But police say that the two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old spat in food prepared for two uniformed officers dining in the restaurant.

The employees, who have since been fired, were caught out after the restaurant’s owners, acting on an anonymous tip about the incident, reviewed surveillance video footage. The owner then contacted police, who have transported the teens to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The teens were filmed spitting on the officers' food. (Photo: CBS 12)
The teens were filmed spitting on the officers' food. (Photo: CBS 12)

The sheriff’s office told local outlet CBS 12 that the owners were “quite upset” about what transpired.

"There is no excuse for actions such as this and will not be tolerated," Sheriff Noel E. Stephen told the news station.

The deputies who were served the tainted food have been informed of the incident, but did not require any medical treatment.

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