An ex-chef at a Budd Lake NJ restaurant faces criminal charges for allegedly spitting in a patron’s food.
The 32-year-old suspect, who hails from Great Meadows, used to be employed as a chef at Kennedy’s Pub. The bar and grill is located on Route 46 in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive, New Jersey.
According to authorities, the suspect spat in the food of a Lake Hopatcong customer after the customer sent the dish back to the kitchen for additional cooking.
Police learned about the alleged spitting incident after a restaurant employee notified police. The employee also told police about a number of other health violations allegedly being committed by the restaurant.
Police investigated the incident and then placed the suspect under arrest. He was later charged with disorderly conduct and tampering with a food product. Since tampering with a food or drug product is classified as an indictable offense, the case will be heard in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown.
The suspect was supposed to appear at Central Judicial Processing in superior court so that a judge could be assigned to his case. However, after he missed two scheduled appearances, a warrant was issued for his arrest; the warrant was later lifted when he finally appeared in court.
In the meantime, the kitchen at Kennedy’s Pub was closed for four months after a health inspection revealed numerous code violations.
The restaurant is now under new management and is slated to reopen soon.
For additional information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Arrest Warrant Lifted for Ex-Chef Accused of Spitting in Food After He Shows Up in Court.”
If you are facing disorderly conduct charges in New Jersey, contact Morristown NJ criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey for a free consultation about your case.