The accused deli worker denies the allegation but co-workers claim she told them that the dip was meant for her and another person.
An Oregon woman was arrested after feeding bean dip to co-workers that she had allegedly spiked with methamphetamine. Cassandra Medina-Hernandez, 38, was placed into custody after offering the dip to a co-worker, who became ill after consuming it.
The co-worker, who was hospitalized, later tested positive for methamphetamine, which led investigators to question a friend of Medina-Hernandez. She eventually turned herself in to law enforcement, who arrested her on suspicion of recklessly endangering another person, among other charges.
Heavy provided detailed information about the incident, which is alleged to have taken place on September 9 at a Thriftway grocery store in Jefferson, Oregon. The location’s assistant manager contacted police to report that her daughter, who also worked at the Thriftway, had been poisoned after accidentally ingesting meth.
A Minor Was Involved
According to a police affidavit, Kelsey Stanley, 27, entered the break room at the store and saw Medina-Hernandez, a Thriftway deli employee making bean dip. Stanley asked to try the dip, and she liked it enough to take some home.
The affidavit also noted that at least one other store employee ate the dip, but they were not reported to have fallen ill. Police also noted that there was also no indication that any customers consumed any contaminated food products.
After leaving the Thriftway store for home, Stanley consumed more of the dip, and told the deputy who wrote the affidavit that she thought it “tasted odd” at one point. She then returned to the Thriftway and reported feeling unwell—”unsteady on [her] feet and [her] stomach was upset,” according to the affidavit.
Stanley was admitted to the emergency room at Santiam Hospital in Stayton, Oregon, where a urine test revealed that she had an unconfirmed positive for methamphetamine. She “emphatically” denied using the drug and allowed police to review her medical records.
Authorities then spoke to two employees at the Thriftway, both of which confirmed that Medina-Hernandez had told them that she had laced the bean dip with methamphetamine, but had intended for it to be consumed by her and another individual.
Surveillance Footage
Review of surveillance video footage taken in the break room on September 9 showed Medina-Hernandez appearing to retrieve and conceal in her hand an item from behind a microwave station, and then placing both the dip and the concealed item on a plate.
After several failed attempts to communicate with Medina-Hernandez, the investigating officer finally contacted her about the incident. She informed him that she would turn herself in, but failed to do so. Finally, on September 25, the officer received a call from the Linn County Parole and Probation Department, stating that she had turned herself in.
Medina-Hernandez was then transported back to Marion County, where she was arrested on suspicion of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, reckless endangerment and causing a person to ingest a controlled substance.
According to the Portland CBS affiliate KOIN, Medina-Hernandez denied all of the accusations. Heavy noted that jail documents showed that she had been previously convicted on delivery and possession of meth, as well as assault in the fourth degree and robbery in the third degree, and had been arrested for identity theft and possession of a restricted weapon while a felon.
Bail was set at $500,000, and a court appearance has been scheduled for October 9.
