Leawood police say test results from the suspect indicate there is no ongoing risk to customers for infectious diseases.
LEAWOOD, Kan. -- The Leawood, Kansas Police Department announced Tuesday that test results from the suspect in the Hereford House food contamination investigation indicate there is no ongoing risk to customers for infectious diseases.
Since the investigation began, 330 people have contacted investigators by phone, email or the online form after they ate at the Hereford House in Leawood between the dates of March 26 and April 25.
Police continue to investigate the recent food contamination by a former employee of the restaurant.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office filed food adulteration charges against 21-year-old Jace Christian Hanson.
According to court documents, on April 25, information was received from an FBI special agent regarding possible intentional food contamination ongoing at Hereford House located at 5001 Town Center Drive.
The tip was about a restaurant employee contaminating food by means such as urinating in food or rubbing food items on his genitals and posting videos online.
Court documents say through the FBI checking IP addresses, they were able to locate an associated phone number that returned to Hanson. The special agent later provided thumbnails for videos posted to a website from username “Vandalizer.” The images depicted a male urinating in food contained in restaurant style bins, pressing food items against his privates and buttocks and using their feet to touch food items.
Leawood police detectives contacted a manager of Hereford House. The head chef was called to the front and provided thumbnail photographs of the videos that had been posted online. He quickly recognized one of the thumbnails to his Au Jus sauce for the restaurant.
When officers asked Hanson if he was aware of any food contamination, Hanson stated, “I’ll just be straight up, yeah.”
He stated he had been in contact with male subjects online that make requests for him to make videos. Hanson stated he meets these people through apps such as Grinder, Sniffy’s and Scruff. They also communicate through SnapChat, according to Hanson.
Hanson estimated there have been over 20 instances where he had contaminated food at the restaurant.
He stated he had worked for Hereford House for approximately a month. The first occurrence of contamination occurred a week and a half after starting the job, court documents say. He stated at first, it was an act done because he did not enjoy the job. Although he says he had begun to enjoy the job slightly more, the acts continued.
Police continue to ask customers who experienced any illness after their meal between the dates of March 26 through April 26 to submit their information here. Customers who have already submitted a report do not need to resubmit their information.
Hanson is scheduled to be back in court in June.
