Vincent Sessler, a 25-year-old Dunkin’ Donuts employee, was detained when he chose to spice up a state trooper’s cup of coffee. Sessler probably thought the cop would drink the infected beverage without realizing what he had done, but happily, the officer first lifted the lid and took a closer look. That doesn’t make it any less unsettling or revolting.
The unidentified Illinois State Trooper had stopped at a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shop in the Garfield Ridge area of Chicago’s Southwest Side around 10:20 p.m. on a Thursday night. The cop needed a pick-me-up and ordered a big black coffee, but he surely received more than he requested when he was served by Sessler.
Since the coffee was quite hot, the officer opted to remove the lid to allow it to cool, which was a good thing as that’s when the trooper observed what seemed to be a gob of spit floating on top. According to the authorities, the “big, thick bit of mucus” was later proven to be saliva.
An inquiry revealed that Vincent Sessler had slipped a loogie into the officer’s coffee. The next day, Sessler was detained and charged with unruly behavior, reckless conduct, and assault on a peace officer. Furthermore, for their own protection, local troopers have opted not to frequent that specific Dunkin’ Donuts outlet. And, really, who could blame them?
This is absurd and repulsive. Every day, the men and women of the Illinois State Police devote their hearts and souls to preserving the lives and liberties of all people in the state, ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a statement. They are entitled to better than this demeaning and harmful treatment.
Unfortunately, incidents like this one are becoming more prevalent, with police personnel all around the country reporting of food tampering as an anti-police mindset increases. An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department cop said he discovered a tampon in a drink he bought at a Target Starbucks several months before this one, but Target said it investigated surveillance video and found nothing strange.
In this scenario, it appears that the firm is side with the cops. According to a statement by Dunkin’ Donuts, the franchise owner took no time in terminating Sessler and denouncing his actions. The alleged behavior is incongruous with the brand’s values,” a representative stated. Dunkin’ has a tremendous regard for police officers who work diligently to keep the communities safe, and the franchise owner has apologized directly to the officer.
This is not just upsetting and repulsive; it is also spineless. Spitting in somebody’s drink isn’t a sign of protest; it’s a passive-aggressive, childish gesture that demonstrates the filth of the person who did it. Attacking somebody based only on their occupation is as dumb as it gets. Police officers, like everyone else working a long shift, should be free to pause for a cup of coffee without worrying if the individual at the counter would be malicious with their order. They have numerous other reasons to be careful on the job; adding placing an order at a coffee shop or restaurant to the list should not be one of them.
