Pensioner jailed after placing sewing needles in supermarket meat
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Version 0 of 1. A 68-year-old man has been jailed after he was charged with placing sewing needles into meat products at a supermarket in Illinois. Following the filing of a criminal complaint, Ronald Avers, appeared in court on Thursday on seven counts of tampering with meat. A number of customers at the court testified that meat that they had bought from the Shop 'n Save store in the suburbs of St. Louis contained sewing needles. One of those to testify said that he had suffered injury when he bit into a one of the needles inserted into a boneless chuck roast, while another customer reported that one of the needles became lodged in their hand while cooking. Read More Stories: In total, six customers and one employee reported finding needles in meat from the store. According to a FBI affidavit, the first case was reported in May, while the last needle was found as late as 14 July this year. Avers first became a suspect when he was filmed on CCTV moving around the store on his mobilised scooter, handling meat and then putting it back onto the shelves. Investigators from the police and the FBI stopped Avers outside the store, where he admitted to the crime. According to the FBI’s affidavit, Avers was quoted as saying: “Every now and then I would stick one in a hamburger." "It was stupidity. I didn't want to hurt nobody," A news release from the police said that anyone found tampering with meat could be imprisoned for up to ten years and face a $250,000 fine.
Additional Reporting AP |