Taco John's employee charged with felony for food adulteration

A fast food restaurant worker is accused of tainting a police officer's tacos.

Erik Joshua Ellis, 21, is accused of putting pubic hair in tacos served to a Morristown Police officer. Ellis was working at the Taco John in Morristown.

Lieutenant Dan Cliff found hair in one of his tacos, check the other, and found hair there as well.

His partner, Sergeant Nathan Antrican, asked who made the food and was informed it was Ellis. According to the police report, Ellis admitted putting hairs in the food.

Ellis was arrested and is now charged with adulterated food, a Class E felony.

39-17-107. Adulteration of food, liquids, or pharmaceuticals. ?

(a) It is an offense for a person to adulterate any food product or liquid that is manufactured, marketed, grown, or produced for human consumption or any pharmaceutical product that is designed, marketed, or prescribed for the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or medical condition by placing in, mixing with, or adding to the product or liquid, any object, liquid, powder or other substance with the intent to cause bodily injury, serious bodily injury or death to a user of the product or liquid. (b) A violation of this section where the person intends to cause bodily injury is a Class C felony. A violation of this section where the person intends to cause serious bodily injury or death is a Class B felony.

[Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.]