An Illinois man was charged for allegedly putting sewing needles into packages of meat at a grocery store, just for fun.
Ronald Avers placed the needles in the meat at a Belleville Shop ‘n Save about seven times between May 2013 and July 2014. When caught, the 68-year-old man, who uses a scooter to get around and carries a portable oxygen tank, told investigators he did it “just for the hell of it.”
“It was stupidity. I didn’t want to hurt nobody,” Avers reportedly told police. “Every now and then I would stick one in a hamburger,” FBI Special Agent Daniel Cook quoted Avers as saying. “Mostly hamburger, a couple of times I did it with a roast, maybe a pork chop every now and then.”
But he didn’t go down without at least trying out an alibi.
When arrested, Avers allegedly had an open package of needles in his pickup truck which he claimed he used to sew his pants, AP reported.
One person was injured by the sewing needles and another found needles in her mouth while eating, according to a Belleville News-Democrat report. Avers has been charged with seven counts of tampering.
He could face up to 10 years in prison.
