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Rat Poison Found in Taco Bell Takeout Order and Customer Hospitalized, Authorities Say
CBS News ^ | JANUARY 18, 2023

Posted on 01/18/2023 12:46:57 PM PST by nickcarraway

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office says it has an "open and active investigation" into how rat poison ended up in a to-go food order of a man who bought burritos Sunday from a Taco Bell restaurant in the Denver suburb of Aurora, CBS Colorado's Brian Maass reports.

"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 told the station, adding that the case is categorized as "criminal attempt homicide."

Bartmann and the restaurant manager, Lary Swift, both told CBS Colorado that a male customer came into the restaurant around 1 p.m. Sunday and argued with restaurant workers about his food order.

Swift said the man was upset that the restaurant's drink station was not working and "wanted something free." Swift said the man argued with employees and other restaurant customers. She said the man is a regular patron who's caused problems before. On one occasion, she said, he threw a taco at an employee.

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

Bartmann said that at about 7 p.m., the man ate the restaurant food and "became violently ill" and called 911. He was transported to an area hospital.

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

Bartmann declined to release the man's identity but said enough rat poison was found in the burritos that "it would have been very serious to our victim's health."

Deputies closed the restaurant on Sunday evening.

Swift said police came back asserting that the eatery had "poisoned somebody."

"We don't carry poison in the restaurant," she said. "We didn't do anything like that. It didn't even add up. It's ridiculous."

Swift said the restaurant turned over surveillance video to Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office investigators and the sheriff's office said it was reviewing the video as well as other evidence it had collected.

CBS News Colorado contacted Taco Bell's corporate communications via email and received the following 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."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: crime; fastfood; food; ratpoison; tacobell
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Which is better rat poison or Taco Bell?
1 posted on 01/18/2023 12:46:58 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

No quiero Taco Bell.


2 posted on 01/18/2023 12:47:54 PM PST by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: nickcarraway

Can I order the burritos and ask for the rat poison to be on the side?


3 posted on 01/18/2023 12:51:40 PM PST by BipolarBob (The rumor has not been confirmed until the FBI officially denies it.)
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To: nickcarraway

He argued with the staff (not the first time)

Demanded free stuff.

Ordered the food at 1.. And waited until 7? To eat bean burritos?

My gut feeling is the customer put a bit too much rat poison in his food. Looking to win big on his “personal injury Lawyer Lottery” Spin.


4 posted on 01/18/2023 12:52:18 PM PST by uranium penguin
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To: BipolarBob

I think they don’t just put out the rat poison these days; you have to ask for it.


5 posted on 01/18/2023 12:53:17 PM PST by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: nickcarraway

Gives new meaning to “ Toxic Shell “.

And....

No one else was affected?
Sounds shady to me...


6 posted on 01/18/2023 12:53:24 PM PST by sonova (That's what I always say sometimes.)
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To: nickcarraway

If it happened during the preparation, residue is in the kitchen area.


7 posted on 01/18/2023 12:53:34 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (The only way to secure your own future is to create it yourself. 111 is the key.)
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To: nickcarraway

That’s good protein, puts some hair on your chest.


8 posted on 01/18/2023 12:54:20 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: BipolarBob

yeah, but it costs extra


9 posted on 01/18/2023 12:57:39 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin
I think they don’t just put out the rat poison these days; you have to ask for it.

I think they put it next to the Salsa Verde. The customer probably didn't look closely.
10 posted on 01/18/2023 12:57:39 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth? (Luke 18:8))
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To: nickcarraway

Never argue with the people who will prepare your food..............


11 posted on 01/18/2023 1:00:29 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: nickcarraway

He poisoned himself to get money?


12 posted on 01/18/2023 1:00:31 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: wally_bert

He should ate at Chipotle................


13 posted on 01/18/2023 1:01:06 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: nickcarraway
I avoid ALL fast food.


14 posted on 01/18/2023 1:01:51 PM PST by GaltAdonis
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To: uranium penguin
My gut feeling is the customer put a bit too much rat poison in his food. Looking to win big on his “personal injury Lawyer Lottery” Spin.

My take on it too.

15 posted on 01/18/2023 1:02:52 PM PST by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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To: nickcarraway
Rat poison is probably the most wholesome ingredient in Taco Bell food.

Maybe the kitchen staff mistook it for Skinny and Sweet?


16 posted on 01/18/2023 1:03:07 PM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

Obviously, that guy asked for it.


17 posted on 01/18/2023 1:03:58 PM PST by BipolarBob (The rumor has not been confirmed until the FBI officially denies it.)
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To: Red Badger

He’d be braver than me in that regard.


18 posted on 01/18/2023 1:04:41 PM PST by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: nickcarraway

“came into the restaurant around 1 p.m”

“at about 7 p.m., the man ate the restaurant food”

Nobody holds on to Taco Bell bean burritos for 6 hours. He put that rat poison in there himself to try and get a bigger payday than just one free burrito.


19 posted on 01/18/2023 1:08:08 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: nickcarraway

20 posted on 01/18/2023 1:10:41 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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