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In the wake of clashes between police officers and protestors across the country, two deputies say they were served food that was "tampered with" at a Zaxby’s in North Carolina.
WBTV reports that the wife of a Cleveland County deputy shared a Facebook post alleging that her husband and his partner visited a local Zaxby’s, while in uniform, during their lunch break. Upon entering, she says they were taunted by "the boys in the back cooking the food." She added that the men ignored the insults but, "as they sat down to eat their food," realized their wings had been doused in hot sauce "to the point where [their] food wasn't even fit to eat."
Cleveland County Captain Joel Shores told WBTV that he was unsurprised by the alleged incident: "Years ago, this profession was respected, it was honored. Now to get ridiculed, to be a target, to possibly get shot at, for little pay. What’s the motivation to be a police officer other than do it because your heart’s in it to help the community."
Phone calls to the Zaxby’s in Shelby, North Carolina — where the alleged incident took place — went unanswered Tuesday morning. The location has, however, posted a statement on its Facebook page:
The post so far as more than 130 comments, most of them negative. One commenter suggested the store should fire the "low life thug scum" responsible and charge him or her with battery, while another suggests customers should "boycott all Zaxby’s."
A Zaxby’s spokesperson has not yet returned Eater’s requests for comment though according to WBTV, the company has launched an internal investigation.
Allegations of cops being refused service or treated poorly are nothing new: In February, a uniformed police officer said that he was denied service at a Krystal; last year in Miami, an officer was allegedly denied service at an Arby's restaurant "because [she was] a police officer."
