A DoorDash driver has been arrested after allegedly spraying a customer’s food with “an irritant substance” before delivering the order.
The incident, involving worker Kourtney Stevenson, was captured on December 7 by a doorbell camera.
In the footage, Stevenson can be seen dropping off an Arby’s order at an Indiana residence and seemingly taking a confirmation photo. She then sprays the bag with a substance, believed to be pepper spray, before leaving.
Highlights
- A DoorDash driver was arrested for allegedly spraying a customer’s food with pepper spray before delivery.
- The customer and his wife experienced burning sensations in their stomachs, throats, mouths, and noses.
- DoorDash permanently removed the driver and is cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation.
Image credits: ghostpants8012
Mark Cardin, who had placed the order with his wife, immediately realized something was wrong when he saw his wife in pain.
"I noticed my wife had started eating, and she started choking and gasping," Cardin told local media WFIE.
"After she had a couple bites of her food, she actually threw up. I had a look at the bag and saw that there was some kind of spray or something. The bag had been tampered with.”
Image credits: Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office
The Evansville resident added that he did not know the woman, suggesting the attack was random.
He said he tried to reach out to Stevenson through the DoorDash app but discovered she had already blocked him.
Stevenson now faces charges that include consumer product tampering and battery resulting in moderate bodily injury.
Image credits: Mark Cardin
She was reportedly arrested in Kentucky and will be extradited to Indiana.
The driver was visiting her father in Evansville on the night of the order that she’s suspected of tainting.
"It’s horrific," Cardin described. "We assume it’s pepper spray. That’s more than likely what it is, but now, in this day and age, it could’ve been anything. It could’ve been rat p*ison. It could’ve been fentanyl. I mean, my wife could’ve been d*ad."
The woman claimed she used pepper spray to scare off a spider
Image credits: NBC News
Following her arrest, Stevenson allegedly told investigators she was trying to protect herself from a spider and attempted to scare it off with the aerosol substance.
She claimed she didn’t mean to pepper-spray the food and had instead aimed at a spider because she’s “terrified” of them.
However, authorities did not believe her, noting it was too cold at the time of the delivery—35°F (1.7°C)—for the creature to be out.
According to the statement, Cardin and his wife reported experiencing burning sensations in their stomachs, throats, mouths, and noses after consuming the food.
Image credits: ghostpants8012
“We live in a terrible world right now. People are mean for no reason. There was no reason to do what she’s done,” he stated.
Image credits: ghostpants8012
"We have zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior," a DoorDash spokesperson said.
"The Dasher in question has been permanently removed from the platform, and our team is standing by to support law enforcement with any investigation."
Cardin said he doesn't think he'll order food through an app ever again
Image credits: NBC News
Cardin urged people to remain alert when ordering food through an app and to consider having a doorbell camera as a precaution.
He said the incident has made him extremely cautious, and he’s not sure whether he will order food from a platform again.
Image credits: ghostpants8012
“When someone violates that trust and endangers others, we will respond … and we will pursue charges,” Robinson added.
