New Jersey pub cook in court to face accusations he spit in patron's food

MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. (WABC) -- The cook accused of spitting in a customer's food in New Jersey appeared in court Wednesday morning.

John Stagg, 32, was arrested in October after a waitress told police she saw him spit in an order at Kennedy's Pub in Mount Olive. A customer had sent the food back to the kitchen because it was not cooked properly.

Stagg is charged with tampering with food. The victim, a 51-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident, was contacted and notified of the incident.

Stagg was released on his own recognizance.

The restaurant manager told Eyewitness News at the time that as soon as she found out what happened, she got rid of everyone working in the kitchen.

Stagg had only been there about two months.