BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Officials describe the surveillance video as grotesque. Tatyana Hargrove, a 21-year-old McDonald's employee, is allegedly caught on camera tampering with the food of a Bakersfield police officer on Tuesday.
Kern County Sheriff's Office Deputy Matt Alvarez did not detail how the officer's food was tampered with, but said Hargrove's actions in the video were "of a pretty disgusting nature."
Hargrove was arrested Friday at her home in Southwest Bakersfield, but posted bail on Saturday.
23ABC News attempted to reach Hargrove at her house, but a woman who answered the door said she was not home.
Court documents show that Hargrove accused two Bakersfield Police Officers of using excessive force against her back in 2017, when they mistook her for an armed man with a machete.
While the officers attempted to detain Hargrove, a K-9 unit bit Hargrove, shown in pictures released by the NAACP's Bakersfield chapter.
In October, a district court ruled in favor of the officers, finding that they were not negligent, did not use excessive force, or wrongfully detain Hargrove.
NAACP Bakersfield Chapter president Patrick Jackson, who was outspoken during the excessive force case, says the NAACP does not condone the alleged actions, but still supports Hargrove.
"We still stand with her," Jackson said. "She's a young lady that's been through a lot."
KCSO officials were not able to comment on whether they thought Hargrove's alleged action was an act of retaliation against BPD, but said she faces one felony count of food tampering.
Jim Abbate, the owner of the McDonald's off Rosedale Highway, released a statement to 23ABC News saying:
“I want to ensure our customers and law enforcement that the behavior exhibited by the individual involved in this incident does not represent my values nor those of my McDonald’s business. When we found out about this disturbing incident, we quickly notified the police. We are cooperating with their investigation and want law enforcement to know they are always welcome at McDonald’s.”
A court date for Hargrove has not been scheduled yet.
