Staff report

MOUNT OLIVE – The chef at Kennedy's Pub was arrested Sunday after he allegedly spit in a patron's food, police said.

A pub employee contacted police at 9:57 p.m. on Sunday to report "multiple health violations" including the chef of the pub spitting in a patrons food, police said.

Sgt. Amy Clymer spoke to the employee and learned that the chef, John Stagg, 32, of Great Meadow, had spit into a meal that was sent back for further cooking, police said.

Detective Michael Zarro was contacted and he responded to police headquarters to conduct interviews and to investigate the incident.

Stagg was located by police and after an interview with Zarro, Stagg was charged with tampering with food or drug product and disorderly conduct, police said. He was released on his own recognizance and he has a pending court appearance.

The victim a 51-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident was contacted and notified of the incident.

A call to the restaurant seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Arif Akhtar, chief health inspector for the township, said he was contacted by police so an inspection was conducted at the restaurant on Monday.

The pub was given a conditionally satisfactory rating, which means that violations were found but it allows the restaurant to remain open with a week to correct the violations. The violations included a general food safety violation and one for not having anyone with ServSafe training as required by the state.

Law requires restaurants be inspected once a year but they can also be inspected at any time, according to Akhtar, who said Kennedy's was last inspected in August. The restaurant received a conditionally satisfactory rating at that time but was able to correct the violations within a week and obtain the required satisfactory rating, he added.

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