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Oh Florida. This week, cooks at a location of Miller's Ale House in Winter Park, Flor. — which is just outside Orlando — are being questioned by authorities after being accused of spitting in police officers' food. According to the local news station earlier reports that the cooks at Miller's spit in food before it was served have not been confirmed.
The original police record read, "It has been brought to our attention that the cooks at the Miller's Ale House at Lee Road and 1792 in Winter Park spit in the food that is ordered by law enforcement officers. Keep this in mind next time you eat out in uniform." Later, another statement was added, "Miller's Ale House leadership was contacted regarding a matter that arose at one of their restaurants. They assured us that they are conducting an internal investigation and this type of behavior will not be tolerated in their restaurants. Miller's Ale House has been a supporter of local law enforcement for many years and we are confident that relationship will continue."
The news broke just as violence by and against police erupted in Baltimore, Md. Authorities were quick to point out the connection, noting that passive aggressive actions towards police are on the rise. It is unclear what, if any, charge would result if a cook at Miller's was found guilty of spitting in an officer's food.
The owners of Miller's Ale House vehemently deny any wrong doing and have released a statement:
"This is absolutely untrue. We've been in business for 25 years, we LOVE the law enforcement community. We deeply respect and support the police force in ALL of our communities... Our cooks are well trained, but they don't know which customer they are cooking for... only what menu item is next up. More importantly, our culture at Miller's Ale House is to treat all guests as if they were dining at our family table... and that certainly includes our many friends in law enforcement."
In New Jersey, spitting in someone's food can actually be cause for arrest and trial. When a chef at a pub in Mount Olive, New Jersey spat in a diner's food he was charged with "tampering with food or drug product and disorderly conduct." Back in 2013, a former McDonald's employee was sentenced to 20 years in prison — his habitual offender status added to the original sentence — for spitting in customers's drinks.
Watch the local news story, below:
