"You want fries with that?" Man arrested for putting hair in cop's food

Ryan Burke, a cook in a restaurant in Evesham, New Jersey, was charged with aggravated assault, food tampering and retaliation for a past official action after an officer said he found "body hair" in a sandwich prepared by Burke last month.

Authorities said Burke was holding a grudge because the officer had previously given him several tickets. Burke says he never intentionally put any hair in the officer's bagel sandwich.

Burke spent four hours in jail before his wife bailed him out.

The officer involved in the incident identified Burke as someone he had encountered previously. Burke said he was arrested by the officer in March 2009, after he failed to pull over for a traffic violation. Burke said the officer had frequented the restaurant many times without any incidents.

Burke said he didn't know of a problem with the sandwich until four officers arrested him in the restaurant's kitchen about 30 minutes after the food was served on Feb. 21.

"At first, (Burke) denied placing anything in his food, but then further investigation provided information that he indeed placed body hair in his sandwich," a police spokesman said.

Burke, a seven-year employee, was fired after the incident and is now unemployed. He said his life has been wrecked.

"I think that this is absurd," he said, standing on the front porch of his home as his wife and 5-month-old daughter watched. "They decided to ruin my life." (info from http://www.courierpostonline.com/ )