JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — An employee from Cruisers Grill is speaking out against allegations about them spitting in people's food.
Tammy Gordon has worked for Cruisers Grill for 11 years, starting as a waitress and now is an assistant manager.
But after the owner, Bobby Handmaker, reportedly told police employees spit on their food, she and others are getting death threats.
"I have children. I’m worried to wear my Cruisers jacket out in public. When I’m shopping, people will say something and I don't want that for them," Gordon said.
Handmaker’s lawyer said he might have said something in the heat of passion, but he said because of the open kitchen, it’s impossible to spit in anyone’s food without someone seeing it.
"A lot of people say things in anger when they're upset without thinking and they wish they hadn't but it doesn't make it true," lawyer Mitch Stone said.
Since the accusations were made, Gordon said she hasn’t seen officers eating here, but she wants them to know that no one here would ever mess with anyone’s food.
"There's been no evidence to support the spitting claims, no complaints, no issues with us being disrespectful to any officer. They are welcome with open arms, part of the family," Gordon said.
And now the employees are counting on their committed customers to help them bounce back.
"We're relying on them at this point to really help the community see that there's no validity in these accusations and we would never do this," Gordon said.
Gordon said the owner has been apologizing to employees all week.
Stone said he is looking into the police report and trying to find out what exactly was said.
Cox Media Group
