Photo: David Paul Morris/Getty
Two McDonald’s employees in Maine have been charged after drugs were found in a customer’s Happy Meal.
According tothe Auburn Police Department, a mother contacted authorities on June 30 after discovering prescription Suboxone, which is used to treat narcotic dependence, in her 11-year-old son’s Happy Meal.
“The investigation has determined that an employee, while preparing meals for the drive-through, had the Suboxone prescription in a shirt pocket, along with a BIC pen. The employee bent over to retrieve something from behind the counter, at which time the prescription and pen fell from the shirt pocket, landing in the Happy Meal box,” explained police, who noted that that the McDonald’s management team cooperated with the investigation.
The worker was unaware the drugs fell out until later in the shift when the situation was brought to the store’s attention, said authorities. Police claimed the employee got the drugs illegally from another coworker earlier in the shift.
Michael Sevey, 43, was charged with unlawful possession of schedule drugs and Mariah Grant, 29, was charged with unlawful trafficking in schedule drugs. Both are expected to appear in court on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
It was not immediately clear if Sevey and Grant have attorneys for PEOPLE to reach for comment.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Suboxone is a medication used to help people recovering from an opiate addiction and treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD), but it can be abused if not used as prescribed.
Shirlee Marchesseault, the woman who purchased the Happy Meal,told WGMEabout her reaction upon finding the items with her child’s food. “My blood was boiling. I didn’t even know what to do at that point, so I called the police,” she said. “I’m just wondering, like, how often does this happen? It shouldn’t be in the hands of any child. It’s dangerous.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
