In a really crappy incident at the West Ashley Harris Teeter supermarket on Sunday afternoon, a disgruntled former contractor walked in and sprayed what investigators told employees was apparently feces on the store’s produce.
“We were extremely alarmed and disappointed to learn that today, a disgruntled, former contractor attempted to contaminate food products in the Produce department and Fresh Foods department inside our St. Andrews Shopping Center location,” said Danna Robinson, a Harris Teeter spokeswoman.
According to The Post & Courier, the contractor in question, Pau S. Hang was arrested and charged with damage to personal property and trespassing after notice.
Dispatch 911 officials said they received the initial call about the incident around 1 p.m. According to Harris Teeter officials, the suspect attempted to contaminate food in the produce department and the fresh foods department inside the store in the St. Andrews Shopping Center in Charleston. His weapon of choice was a spray bottle from which he sprayed a “brown liquid” onto some of the produce in the store. The liquid was eventually identified as feces by investigators.
One shopper, who was lucky enough to be at Harris Teeter during the literal shitstorm said, “They even cleared out all the pre-made deli food. I knew it was really bad when I was in line at the register and someone asked, ‘What’s going on?’ And the clerk said, ‘I’m not allowed to say,'”
Apparently, Hang, 41, has been charged with trespassing violations at least nine times since November 2015.
Harris Teeter has since released the following statement:
Food safety and quality are paramount to Harris Teeter. We were extremely alarmed and disappointed to learn that today, a disgruntled, former contractor attempted to contaminate food products in the Produce department and Fresh Foods department inside our St. Andrews Shopping Center location. Our valued associates immediately took action – closing down affected departments and notifying appropriate team members. Additionally, our associates properly discarded any and all product that was exposed to contamination as well as thoroughly cleaned and sanitized affected areas.
In an abundance of caution, Harris Teeter has proactively contacted the Charleston County Department of Health. The affected departments will not re-open without the Charleston County Department of Health’s approval.
The former contractor has been arrested.
