Man Accused Of Poisoning Ann Arbor Grocery Store Food To Get Mental Exam
ANN ARBOR (WWJ/AP) - An Ann Arbor judge has approved a request to evaluate the mental competency of a 29-year-old man accused of poisoning unpackaged food at grocery stores.
Defendant Kyle Bessemer's lawyer, Christopher Renna, sought the examination for competency and criminal responsibility based on conversations he had with Bessemer and his family.
The FBI has said Bessemer admitted to spraying a mixture of hand sanitizer, mouse poison and water on produce and prepared food bars at three local supermarkets. He's been charged with poisoning in connection with incident as two of those stores.
As far as a motive, investigators say suspect told them he believed that someone was trying to poison him.
Confirmed stores involved in the case are Whole Foods Market, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway; Meijer, 3145 Ann Arbor-Saline Road; and Plum Market; 375 North Maple Road — but the FBI believes it is possible that multiple others stores were targeted. [See a complete list HERE].
Bessemer faces food poisoning charges pertaining to alleged incidents at two of the stores after tips from the public led to his arrest.
Shoppers have been encouraged to throw away uneaten food from salad bars and ready-to-eat food bars at purchased at grocery stores Ann Arbor area between mid-March and the end of April.
Meantime, Washtenaw County Health officials say they've been fielding calls from concerned consumers, but no illnesses have been confirmed in connection to these crimes.
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