ETE Reman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a boss allegedly slipped steer wheel fluid in his employee’s drink (Google Maps).
A man in Wisconsin was arrested for reportedly causing harm to one of his coworkers by putting steering wheel fluid into the victim’s drink as a response to the coworker’s behavior of disrespecting him.
Law enforcement in Milwaukee were called to ETE Reman, an establishment that manufactures car transmissions, on June 5 in response to a conflict between employees. The victim reported that an unidentified substance had been added to his Arizona iced tea drink the day before, leading to illness and requiring medical attention.
The victim detailed his routine of storing his drinks, a fruit punch and an Arizona Ginseng Tea, in the break room freezer when he arrived for work at 1:45 p.m. Upon returning to consume his iced tea later, he observed an oily residue on the bottle’s rim and detected a potent chemical scent emanating from the drink, prompting concerns of poisoning.
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The victim showed the drink to a couple of co-workers, including his boss, 60-year-old Steven R. Cox.
Human resources reviewed video of the breakroom and determined Cox was the culprit, the affidavit said. It allegedly showed Cox walking into the breakroom holding two Pure Leaf tea bottles. Cox approached the freezer where the victim put his drink and looked around to see if anyone else was there, the affidavit said.
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The video allegedly showed Cox pick up the victim’s iced tea and appear to pour something into it from the Pure Leaf bottle. He then went to the sink and washed out his Pure Leaf bottle before throwing it away, cops said. A human resource manager retrieved the Pure Leaf bottle from the trash and it apparently had the same greasy substance and smell as the victim’s iced tea, police said.
The victim said he’s had issues with Cox in the past but thought they had ironed them out. When the HR person confronted Cox, he denied any involvement but allegedly said the victim was “always glaring at him.”
When officers spoke with Cox, he allegedly admitted to pouring power steering fluid into the victim’s drink. He said he’s “always had an issue” with the victim and heard he was “always trash talking him,” the affidavit states. Cox allegedly described the incident as a “prank.”
Cox was arrested on a charge of placing foreign objects in edibles. He was taken to jail and has since posted bond. Court records say he was assigned a public defender. His next court date is scheduled for June 28.
