Would You Like Phlegm With That? Pub Chef Spit in Food, Cops Say

The chef at one of Mt. Olive’s more popular restaurants was arrested over the weekend for allegedly spitting into a customer’s food, police said.

At 9:57 p.m. on Sunday, an employee of Kennedy’s Pub on Rt. 46 in the Budd Lake section of town called police to report multiple health violations and that the chef, John Stagg, 32, of Great Meadows, allegedly spit in a customer’s food, police said.

An investigation revealed Stagg had spit into the food that was sent back by a customer for further cooking, police said.

Detectives from the department interviewed Stagg, who was subsequently arrested and charged with tampering with food or drug product and disorderly conduct.

The victim, a 51-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident, was notified of the incident, police said.

Stagg was released pending a court appearance.

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