West New York police are still investigating the events that took place at the McDonalds at 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue on Dec. 29 after a North Bergen woman was hospitalized for swallowing three inch-long needles that she claimed were in her crispy chicken sandwich.
On Dec. 29, Beatriz Bermeo stopped in at the McDonald’s on Bergenline Avenue with her husband Beethoven, her sister, and her 2-year-old son. Originally intending to let her son visit the indoor playground, they sat down to eat instead after they discovered the playground was closed.
Bermeo ordered a chicken sandwich, but about halfway through it, she began to feel pain in her mouth and throat. Unable to speak, she clutched her throat thinking she was choking, but after her husband attempted the Heimlich maneuver, nothing came out. According to Rosemarie Arnold, Bermeo’s attorney, when he opened her mouth, he discovered two needles protruding from her esophagus and immediately pulled them out.
After police arrived at the restaurant, Bermeo was rushed to Palisades Medical Center on River Road, where three more needles were discovered in her digestive tract. The remaining needles had to be surgically removed, and Bermeo remained at the hospitalized for three days.
The needles were described as similar to sewing needles, but without the thread loop.
“She has internal injuries from the pins [and is still complaining of pain],” said Arnold, last week. “They don’t know if she still has needles inside.”
Where did they come from?
Allegedly, the needles had been embedded in the chicken, but according to Arnold, McDonald’s’ position on the incident is that the needles didn’t come from that particular restaurant.
George Gutierrez, the owner of that particular franchise, gave a statement to the Jersey Journal newspaper stating that an aggressive investigation has been launched in regard to the incident.
“We have no reason to believe that this object came from our restaurant, and the object in question is not something that is used in our restaurant,” said Gutierrez in the statement. “I strongly caution anyone from jumping to conclusions or making assumptions before knowing all the facts.”
Arnold said she is looking into an Ireland-based company, with a regional office in Newark that provides McDonald’s with their food supply.
“I wrote them a letter, but we have had no response,” said Arnold.
According to that company’s website, “These businesses are dedicated to serving the distribution function for McDonald’s in the New York Metro region, McDonald’s in the Republic of Ireland, and McDonald’s Northern Ireland region.”
Investigations and lawsuit
Bermeo has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s seeking compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering, but it could take up to a year and a half to go to trial.
“She’s very emotionally upset, and still complaining about stomach aches,” said Arnold.
The West New York Police Department is currently conducting a criminal investigation, but is not releasing any information.
“We are not allowed to release any information because it’s an ongoing investigation,” said Capt. Robert Antolos.
Antolos said they are looking into any possible prior incidents with that McDonald’s, but nothing has been determined yet. Arnold claims a similar incident happened in New York.
Since the incident, there was an alleged copycat incident at the same McDonald’s on Jan. 18 involving Jose Rodriguez, 48, of Cliffside Park. Capt. Antolos said Rodriguez allegedly apparently cut his own mouth with a razor and stuffed his chicken sandwich with a row staples and a bent paper clip. Antolos said that after an investigation, Rodriguez admitted to fabricating the story. He was arrested and charged with supplying a false report to law enforcement and tampering with or fabricating evidence. Officials believe he was trying to cash in on the lawsuit against the company that was brought by Bermeo.