PACE, Fla. — Florida authorities have opted not to pursue charges in a case involving customers who ate meth-laced food from a Japanese steak house in Santa Rosa County, local media outlets report.
The Pensacola News Journal, citing records obtained from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, reported multiple employees were able to identify which worker they believed to have contaminated the food at the Nikko Japanese Steak House.
Seven people were reportedly sickened but in the end, the investigation came to a standstill because of a lack of evidence — including no eyewitness and surveillance footage.
No criminal charges will be filed.
The incident happened on Friday, June 9, when seven people were hospitalized. Test results shown to WEAR-TV confirmed meth was found in their bodies and the food they ingested.
Three of the seven involved in the incident hired an attorney to represent them and are seeking financial compensation, according to the station. WEAR-TV says once the three got to the hospital after feeling sick, they saw the other four people from their table in the same hospital.
After being cleared by the health department, the Japanese steak house was reportedly allowed to reopen, the Pensacola News Journal reports.
In a statement to the newspaper, its owners said, in part, "To think that people were harmed by something on our premises is heartbreaking. We are a family-owned business who serves the families of Pace. We can assure you that this was an isolated incident that in no way reflects our service as a whole."
