Florida man accused of pouring bleach into co-workers drink for being ‘difficult to work with’.
A Florida man has been accused of pouring bleach and spitting into a co-worker’s soda can after an argument, authorities said.
Jerome Ellis, 48, was arrested Monday on charges of poisoning food or water with intent to kill or injure, and tampering with or fabricating evidence – both felonies.
According to a charging affidavit obtained by The Post, Volusia County sheriff’s deputies were sent to a Dollar General store in DeLand on Monday night for a report of a possible poisoning.
An employee told the deputies that he and Ellis got into a row at work the day before, and he believed Ellis had a “grudge” against him.
The person making the complaint said he left an open can of Pepsi from lunch on a counter when he went to the restroom. When he returned and took a sip from the can, he noticed the beverage tasted and smelled like bleach.
When the worker reviewed a surveillance video from the store, he said the footage showed Ellis pouring bleach into his drink.
During an interview with deputies, Ellis denied arguing with his co-worker and claimed to have spilled some cleaning solution on the counter.
When deputies reviewed the surveillance video, they said it showed Ellis pouring bleach in the vicinity of his co-worker’s Pepsi can, then wiping it with a paper towel.
“Jerome went back a few minutes later and leans over the can appearing to spit into it,” according to the affidavit. “Jerome once again proceeded to grab the can and wipe it down one more time.”
Ellis and the victim reportedly got into an argument the day before, and the victim told police he believed Ellis was holding a grudge against him, deputies said.
The man told deputies he placed a Pepsi he was drinking on a counter before going to the restroom. When he came back and took a drink from the can, it tasted like bleach or cleaning supplies.
When deputies arrived at the store, video surveillance showed Ellis pouring bleach into the Pepsi can while the victim was in the bathroom. He also reportedly wiped the can off, walked away, and came back to spit in the drink, deputies said.
Ellis initially told deputies there was no argument between him and the victim and that he went behind the counter with “cleaning solution and spilled some in that general area,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Video footage also showed Ellis attempting to unplug the camera system.
When confronted about the video footage, Ellis told deputies that he put some cleaning solution around the brim of the drink to get back at the victim for being difficult to work with, deputies said.
Ellis was booked into the Volusia County Jail. Upon further investigation, deputies said they looked at the surveillance footage and saw Ellis pouring cleaning solution into the drink, wiping the can off and setting it back down in its original spot. A few minutes later, Ellis leans over the can, appearing to spit into it.
Ellis was arrested and has been charged with poisoning and tampering with evidence. Video surveillance also showed Ellis attempting to unplug the store’s security cameras, according to the arrest affidavit.
According to authorities, Ellis told deputies he wiped bleach around the can rim to get back at his co-worker for “being difficult to work with.”
Ellis was taken to Volusia County Jail, authorities said.
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