A Milwaukee man, identified as 34-year-old Joseph Ross, has been charged with contaminating his co-worker's soda with superglue, following the co-workers suspicions leading to the setup of a surveillance camera that caught the act. Fox 6 Now reported that the incident unfolded at the Wisconsin State Fair Park where Ross and the woman worked; the police became involved on March 20 when the woman approached them with a complaint of her drink having a "strong chemical smell and taste" that made her ill.
The surveillance footage proved to be a pivotal turn in the investigation, with WISN 12 News detailing that upon its review, Ross was observed tampering with the beverage; when later questioned by police, he admitted to adding a "supplement" to his co-worker's Coca-Cola, a term which legal expert Craig Mastantuono suggested was likely an attempt to deceive the investigators while making an admission. During a subsequent search by authorities, clear protective gloves and a superglue container and cap were discovered in the garbage near Ross's desk.
A criminal complaint has been filed against Ross by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office with the felony count of placing foreign objects in edibles, as Fox 6 Now notes, this charge can lead to a substantial fine of up to $10,000 and even a prison sentence that could run up to 38 months. The case not only brings to light the severity of the act in terms of potential harm it presented to the victim but also the legal repercussions that can come from such dangerous behaviors at the workplace.
Upon Joseph Ross's arrest on a Tuesday, it was confirmed by TMJ4 that the charges would include the possibility of jail time, as outlined in the official charge of "Placing Foreign Objects in Edibles," with the specific details of the act, found gloves and the recovered superglue items, potentially serving as evidence in the judicial proceedings to follow. The situtation not only highlights workplace safety concerns but also raises awareness about the need for vigilance amongst co-workers, and the availability of surveillance technology as a tool for uncovering such malicious acts.
