DoorDash driver faces felony charges after allegedly spraying customers’ food

A DoorDash delivery worker is facing felony charges in Evansville, Indiana, after allegedly contaminating customers’ food with a substance that caused them to become ill.

According to a press release from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were contacted on December 7 by a man who reported that he and his wife vomited and felt a burning sensation in their mouth, noses, throats, and stomachs shortly after eating fast food delivered through DoorDash.

The man told NBC News that he noticed a red substance sprayed on the delivery bag and decided to review footage from his doorbell camera. Investigators say the video shows the delivery driver taking a photo of the order, then appearing to spray something toward the food using a small aerosol can attached to her keychain.

Detectives used DoorDash records to identify the driver as Kourtney Stevenson, a Kentucky resident. Stevenson reportedly told local police during a phone call that she had been working for DoorDash while visiting her father and had sprayed pepper spray to kill a spider.
However, the sheriff’s department noted that with temperatures dropping to 35 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, “outdoor spiders in Indiana are not active and would not be capable of crawling on exposed surfaces.”

After Stevenson allegedly declined to come in for an interview, investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest on charges of battery resulting in moderate injury and consumer product tampering. She is currently awaiting extradition to Indiana.

A DoorDash spokesperson said the company has permanently banned Stevenson from the platform.

“We have absolutely zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior,” the spokesperson said. “The Dasher’s access to the platform has been permanently removed, and our team is supporting law enforcement with their investigation.”

Both The New York Times and NBC News report that it is unclear whether Stevenson has legal representation or a spokesperson to comment on her behalf.