Trial Date Set For Man Accused Of Pouring Bleach On Grocery Items

REDONDO BEACH, CA — A trial date was set 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.

"The court found that Lohr is now competent to stand trial and set a trial date of Oct. 20," Thom Mrozek, Director of Media Relations at the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles told Patch.

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.

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.

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

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