The needle nightmare is finally over at one Illinois grocery store.
It took the help of the FBI to track down the man who for months had been sticking sharp sewing needles inside of packaged meat at the Belleville Shop ’n Save!
Authorities say 68-year-old Ronald Avers had been doing this for well over a year before they caught him in the act this week. He’s now under arrest, charged with seven counts of tampering with meat. Each charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
But WHY was Avers hiding these needles inside food?? His answer might shock you!
He told police:
“I didn’t want to hurt nobody. [I did it] for the hell of it. Every now and then, I would stick one in a hamburger…mostly hamburger, a couple times I did it with a roast, maybe a pork chop every now and then.├óΓé¼┬¥
Avers isn’t exactly inconspicuous either. He would enter the store on his motorized scooter with his oxygen tank in tow. For 14 months, the store tried to track down who was doing this after several complaints from customers were registered.
One person reportedly was stuck in the mouth from one of Ronald’s needles. Another was jabbed in the hand while handling their purchased meat. In all, six customers and an employee found needles in packages of meat!
Cameras finally caught Avers holding meats and then leaving without buying anything. That’s when store officials and law enforcement knew they’d gotten their guy.
We just hope this was the only store where Ronald was hiding his needles and that no one else is in danger!
Be careful out there, Perezcious readers!
[Image via Facebook.]