Sheriff’s Deputy Secretly Pepper Sprayed Teen's Pizza, Made Him Sick
An Orange County sheriff's deputy stands accused of surreptitiously pepper spraying a teenager's pizza during a routine traffic stop last year.
The unnamed 19-year-old was being written up for a traffic violation in Laguna Hills when Officer Juan Tavera arrived at the scene and proceeded to secretly reach into the victim's backseat and pepper spray his pizza.
The 19-year-old and his friends later became ill after consuming the pie.
Suspecting Tavera's involvement, the teen phoned the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and recounted the September 8th incident.
Tavera was subsequently charged with misdemeanor assault or battery by a public officer. He is due in court today.
If convicted, Tavera, a six-year vet, could face up to one year in jail.
