The term “grand slam” takes on a whole new meaning in the case of a Denny’s employee who’s been accused of jacking off in the food.
Waterloo, Illinois- The fate of a man accused of intentionally tainting a Waterloo Police officer’s and a former supervisor’s food will apparently rest solely on the words of his former co-workers.
Monroe County Circuit Judge Dennis Hatch ruled last week there is sufficient cause to prosecute Anthony J. Lindhorst, 26, of Waterloo despite the police department’s acknowledgment no physical evidence exists.
Lindhorst was charged May 17 with five counts of aggravated battery for allegedly mixing his semen into food that was served to Waterloo Police Officer Jeff Prosise and Ellen Armbrecht at the Denny’s Restaurant on N. Market Street where he was employed.
He is also charged with having brought brownies spiked with cannabis to work and distributing them among his co-workers.
The May 13 brownie incident prompted Denny’s to terminate Lindhorst for suspicion of bringing an illegal substance to work.
According to the testimony of co-workers recounted in court by Waterloo Police Capt. Sue Sweet, the alleged body fluid assaults occurred in either November or December 2003.
The more serious allegations that prompted police to become involved came from Scott A. McAllister, a 30-year-old former Denny’s employee who, like Lindhorst, has a record of numerous local arrests.
Lindhorst’s attorney Robert Hayes said McAllister is “a convicted felon” who has had a “running battle” with Lindhorst. Monroe County records show the former St. Clair County resident has been arrested three times since May 2000, but has been convicted only of driving under a revoked license.
Sweet testified that McAllister on an unspecified date approached Prosise in public and told him he “had better be careful when eating at Denny’s” because Lindhorst was working in the kitchen and did not like Prosise because the officer “kept pulling him over.”
McAllister reportedly told police Lindhorst took a dish into the employee restroom and returned with “a liquid” in it after saying he was going to foul someone’s food.
Sweet said two brothers-Jesse and Sean McMahan-who were line cooks at Denny’s during the time of the alleged incidents said they recalled incidents where Lindhorst referred to putting his “special sauce” on customers’ food.
No testimony other than Sweet’s was heard at Thursday’s hearing, but nine of Lindhorst’s former Denny’s coworkers attended the hearing.
The Denny’s employees were not sworn to speak at the hearing, but many whispered at key points of Sweet’s testimony, apparently disputing the account that was reported.
Lindhorst’s co-workers who attended the hearing-including Jesse McMahan, who shook his head and said quietly parts of his police statement had been left out-appeared to support Lindhorst, who has refused to comment in public or to the police.
Waterloo Denny’s general manager Tony Salamone said before the hearing the accusations have hurt the restaurant’s business.
“Out of 17 restaurants in our area, we were number one in food quality, labor and sales growth,” Salamone said.
Salamone said Lindhorst had worked as a dishwasher at the restaurant about a year. The location opened in July of 2000.
Theresa Reis, a shift manager at the restaurant, said police “have not even talked to me. I would have been manager on duty the shift when this supposedly happened.”
“(Police) haven’t talked to any of the servers who were working then, either,” Reis said.
Reis also said McAllister has “a reputation for not telling the truth.”
State’s Attorney Kris Reitz said “we have numerous witnesses who have testified that this did occur. (Lindhorst) had motive; a police officer he didn’t like and a former supervisor.”
Armbrecht had been Lindhorst’s supervisor at the McDonald’s restaurant in Waterloo five years ago.
Lindhorst’s case will be on the July 21 docket call and he could face trial the week of Aug. 9.