A cop from Michigan is suing fast food giant Taco Bell for $5 million after a worker for the chain allegedly spat in her food.
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Maccah McGhee, a deputy in Calhoun County, filed the lawsuit against Border Foods, a company in Minnesota that owns and operates the Taco Bell restaurant at 1440 North Eaton Street in Albion. The complaint is also against a worker in the restaurant, Governor Cameron-Wayne Stovall, 25.
Per a report by MLive, the lawsuit alleges that Stovall spat in a potato bowl ordered by McGhee in September 2024. McGhee was reportedly on her lunch break when she noticed a slimy substance on her food that didn't seem to match the meal's ingredients. The officer confronted Taco Bell management, but they reportedly dismissed her concerns, saying the substance was sour cream.
It may sound like something the average customer would find hard to prove. However, McGhee had all of the police tools at her disposal. McGhee reportedly enlisted the help of Albion Public Safety, who carried out a DNA test on the food bowl. The results reportedly reveal Stovall's DNA in the slimy substance. Stovall denied spitting in the dish but allegedly made contradicting statements to authorities.
MLive explains that Stovall told police the substance just 'looked like water,' but he was in too much of a hurry to do anything about it. He later admitted to police that he may have accidentally sneezed in the food.
Why Would A Taco Bell Worker Spit In Food?
No motives have been listed, although WWMT reports Stovall may have had an issue with the police. Stovall allegedly told officers that "he had a disdain for law enforcement," per the complaint.
Five million may sound like an exorbitant amount of compensation, but McGhee's attorney, Phillip Hamilton, believes the amount reflects the severity of the incident.
"When you expel bodily fluids into someone's food, it becomes much more serious. So that played a big part in our request," he told the outlet in an interview. McGhee also told WWMT that she feels she can't eat comfortably anywhere for fear of a similar situation.
As of Tuesday, March 4, Stovall reportedly faces multiple criminal charges, including negligence, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
