LAYTON, Utah, Oct. 11, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Layton will not press charges against a teenage Subway sandwich shop employee who in August was accused of putting a foreign substance, thought to be drugs, in a Layton police sergeant’s order of lemonade.
Although an initial test found that a foreign substance had been added to the drink, subsequent tests by the State Crime Lab did not duplicate that result, according to a statement from the Layton City Police Department.
The sergeant — whose name was not released — reportedly believed his drink tasted like chemicals, and that he was losing control of his limbs.
The officer drove to the Layton Police Station where he “was observed to have signs of impairment,” according the probable cause statement. “He was unable to process information and drifted off and was unable to focus on questions being asked of him.”
The officer was taken to the Davis County Hospital where he reportedly showed further signs of impairment.
Detectives returned to the Subway and reviewed surveillance tapes which allegedly showed Tanis Lloyd Ukena, 18, taking an unusually long time to prepare the sergeant’s beverage.
Ukena was taken into custody and questioned at the Layton Police Station, where he reportedly told officers he prepared the sergeant’s drink order, but denied spiking the drink with drugs.
Ukena was charged with surreptitious administration of a substance, a second degree felony punishable by a sentence of 1 to 15 years in prison. He was released on $10,000 bond.
Charging documents say the unfinished drink initially was tested on an “ion scanner” and revealed the presence of methamphetamine, and THC, the psycho-active ingredient in marijuana.
In the statement released Tuesday by Layton, police officials thanked the Subway shop owner for the cooperation, adding that “The department would also like to express our appreciation for the patience of Tanis and his family during this investigation.”
Ukena lost his job over the incident, and the story was carried by local, national and international news outlets.
Just awful.
Essentially the officer put on a show and lied about the whole thing, and an innocent kid was dragged through the mud due to the officers little stunt.
So disrespectful.