Man Puts Sewing Needles In Packaged Meat

A Illinois man has been jailed for inserting sewing needles in packaged meat at a grocery store in Belleville city which is just east of St. Louis. Surveilance cameras caught a 68-year-old man inserting sewing needles in different packaged meats like pork chops, hamburger, roasts and steaks.

The video showed a man in a motorized scooter with a portable oxygen tank tampering meat items that he never ended up buying. When it was time for the elderly man to check out investigators were there to confront him. They identified him as Ronald Avers and searched his vehicle.

They found a open package of sewing needles. Ronald said told investigators he kept the needles on hand to mend pants he tore while camping. Avers finally confessed and said 'Every now and then I would stick one in a hamburger." Avers also said "Mostly hamburger, a couple of times I did it with a roast, maybe a pork chop every now and then." If that didn't disturb you enough Avers also commented that he inserted sewing needles into packaged meat products, 'just for the hell of it!'"

This all started when a store employee found a needle sticking out of a package of pork chops. Customers later reported finding needles in everything from ground beef to roasts and steaks.Thankfully nobody was injured and they caught the guy!

Avers could be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.