Crime & Safety

Man Facing Federal Charges For Alleged Bleach Attacks

A transient man is facing federal charges over allegedly pouring bleach into grocery store freezers and refrigerators.

David Lohr is accused of pouring bleach inside refrigerators and freezers at grocery stores in Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and West Los Angeles.
David Lohr is accused of pouring bleach inside refrigerators and freezers at grocery stores in Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and West Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation)

REDONDO BEACH, CA — A status conference is scheduled Tuesday for a transient man accused of bleach attacks at grocery stores in Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and West Los Angeles.

David Lohr, 49, is facing federal charges of tampering and attempting to tamper with consumer products, according to officials.

He was allegedly seen at supermarkets in Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and West Los Angeles pouring bleach into refrigerators and freezers containing ice, alcoholic beverages and frozen seafood. Customers reported smelling bleach on products.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The FBI said Lohr started his crime spree in December 2018 and continued into January. He was arrested by authorities in Northern California in February 2019.

Security video allegedly showed him pouring the bleach into refrigerators and freezers containing packaged consumer products – like ice, alcoholic beverages and packaged frozen seafood – at supermarkets in L.A. County, authorities said. Some customers reported smelling bleach on products, according to the FBI.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The affected products were destroyed, as bleach contains hazardous chemicals that can cause "serious eye irritation, skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,"

Patch reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for more information.

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