KEY POINTS

  • NYPD, Shake Shack: 'No criminality in poisoning incident'
  • DEA believes intentional poisoning
  • Poisonous substance suspected to be unremoved bleach for cleaning
  • DEA, NYC PBA tells cops to be vigilant with food
  • 3 officers treated for food poisoning, expected to recover

The New York Police Department announced that they found no criminality after the poisoning of three officers at Shake Shack on Tuesday.

CBS New York reported that according to CBS2, the poisoning was purely an accident and was probably caused by cleaning solution that wasn’t properly removed from the shake machine.
Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison tweeted early on Tuesday (June 16) assuring that the incident involved no foul play.
However, the Detective’s Endowment Agency released a statement saying that they believe that the poisoning of the three officers was intentional, ABC News reported.
“Tonight, three of our brothers in blue were intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack at 200 Broadway in Manhattan,” the DEA said in the statement. “After tasting the milk shakes they purchased they became ill, making it necessary for them to go to an area hospital. Fortunately, our fellow officers were not seriously harmed.”
The DEA went on to say that the police in New York City are subject to the attacks of criminals who base their hostility on the officers’ line of work.
The Agency reminded cops to be more alert of their surroundings especially when it comes to the food they eat and their safety.
Now, more than ever, we have to be united,” the DEA said.
Three officers became sick on Monday (June 15) after drinking shakes from the restaurant at Broadway and Fulton Street.
The New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (NYC PBA) issued a statement early Tuesday saying that they believe that the officers ingested bleach.
“At some point during their meal period, the MOS discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages,” the NYC PBA said in a statement published to social media. “The contamination was not discovered until the MOS had already ingested a portion of their beverages.”
Like the DEA, the NYC PBA emphasized that officers should maintain vigilance especially with their food.
The three officers were treated in a hospital and were expected to survive the ordeal.
Meanwhile, Shake Shack was reportedly “horrified” about the incident but they did not reveal what might have caused it.
“We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now,” Shake Shack tweeted.
Like the NYPD, the restaurant maintained that the incident was purely accidental.
shake shack
Pictured is a Shake Shack storefront. Reuters/Carlo Allegri