Heroin Happy Meal: McDonald’s worker allegedly used kids meals to sell drugs
A Pittsburgh McDonald’s employee was arrested this week after authorities said she used Happy Meal boxes to sell heroin.
Heroin in a McDonald’s Happy Meal? At one of the fast-food chain’s franchise locations in Pittsburgh, it seems that all you had to say was, “I’d like to order a toy.”
Shantia Dennis, a 26-year-old McDonald’s employee from East Pittsburgh, was arrested Wednesday after undercover law enforcement officials said she was using Happy Meal boxes to sell heroin. After her arraignment Thursday, she was charged with criminal use of a cellphone, delivery of heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of heroin and marijuana.
According to a statement from Mike Manko, communications director for the Allegheny County district attorney’s office, customers would call Dennis ahead of time to let her know they were coming, then order “a toy.”
Using a tip from an informant, undercover officers called Dennis on Wednesday, then pulled into the drive-thru and placed the order.
The officers paid Dennis $82 for the normally $2 meal, which they say they received along with 10 small bags of heroin. When officers arrested Dennis and searched the McDonald’s, they found the money they had used to pay for the drugs, 50 small bags of heroin in her purse, another $80 and some marijuana in her bra.
No other employees were charged in relation to the drug bust and the store’s owner, Iftikhar Malik, is believed to be unaware of the drug sales. According to the Associated Press, Malik also owns another location in Murrysville, Pa., where an employee was charged with dealing heroin earlier this year.
“The allegations related to this employee do not represent acceptable behaviors and are not consistent with my values,” Malik said in a statement. “As such, we take these charges very seriously and we are fully cooperating with the authorities. We are also conducting our own thorough internal investigation.”
Want more weird fast food news? Follow me on Twitter: @Jenn_Harris_
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