Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005
Source: Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2005 Southeast Missourian
Contact:  http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DESLOGE POLICE OFFICER GOT BURGER LACED WITH METHAMPHETAMINE

DESLOGE, Mo. -- The police officer's Quarter Pounder with Cheese tasted a
little funny, and for good reason: It was laced with methamphetamine. The
incident happened in December in Desloge, Mo., about 50 miles southwest of
St. Louis, but was not made public until Friday.

Police chief James Bullock told KMOV-TV in St. Louis that the officer
went to McDonald's the day after Christmas and bought the sandwich,
then took it back to the police station.

"He thought it tasted kind of funny, so he looked at the burger,"
Bullock said. "It looked like it had a foreign substance on it." The
burger was sent to the Missouri Highway Patrol crime lab for testing
and tested positive for meth.

In a statement from McDonald's, John McCook, who owns and operates the
Desloge restaurant, said the chain is cooperating with the
investigation. No charges have been filed, though Bullock said a young
man who used to work at the restaurant is being scrutinized. That
man's friends had trouble with the same officer years ago.

Missouri is among the nation's hardest-hit states in terms of meth
production and arrests. Police in Desloge and the surrounding counties
make hundreds of meth arrests every year.
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