Three NYPD officers were sickened and hospitalized after dining at a Shake Shack in Lower Manhattan Monday night, police said.
After a thorough investigation, the NYPD said it found no criminality by Shake Shack’s employees, according to Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison. He didn't go into details on whether the Police Benevolent Association's claims that some sort of cleaning solution or disinfectant was found in the officers' beverages were accurate.
The three cops from the Bronx were assigned to watch over protests in Manhattan and they went into the burger chain at Fulton Center around 8:30 p.m., according to the union. After eating their meals and drinking a portion of their milkshakes, the officers discovered some toxic substance.
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It is unclear how the officers were sickened but the incident appeared to be accidental.
Shake Shack said in a statement that it was "horrified" by the reports of the officers getting sickened, and it is working hard to get the full picture of what happened.
All the officers were hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital and released a short time later, officials said.
In an initial warning message to union members following the incident, the Police Benevolent Association said all union members are "advised to carefully inspect any prepared food item they purchase while on duty for possible contamination," telling them to have meals in pairs or groups.
"When New York City police officers cannot even take (a) meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level," PBA President Pat Lynch said. "We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment."
The union has not reacted to new information that no criminality were found by restaurant employees.
